3,000 athletes, 50 states, one message: the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games power inclusion in Minnesota

For one week in the summer of 2026, Minnesota became the beating heart of inclusive sport in the United States. From 20 to 26 June, the state and its Twin Cities hosted the Special Olympics USA Games, welcoming more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states to compete, connect and be celebrated on a national stage.

The scale of the community behind the athletes was just as striking as the competition itself. Some 10,000 volunteers helped stage the Games, and around 75,000 fans turned out to cheer, filling venues including sites at the University of Minnesota. The result was a week that felt less like a single event and more like a movement — thousands of people gathering around a simple, powerful idea.

“From 20 to 26 June, the state and its Twin Cities hosted the Special Olympics USA Games, welcoming more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states to compete, connect and be celebrated on a national stage.”

That idea sat at the center of everything: the belief that sport can open doors, build confidence and bring people together. The Games were built around inclusion and community, giving athletes with intellectual disabilities the spotlight they too often go without, and giving spectators a firsthand look at what genuine belonging in sport looks like.

Partners helped make the experience possible, among them The Coca-Cola Company, a founding partner of Special Olympics International and a platinum partner of the USA Games. “Partners like Coca-Cola play a vital role in helping us create inclusive experiences that empower athletes and bring communities together,” said Kym Jordan, vice president of global corporate engagement. When the closing week arrived, what lingered was not only the medals, but the reminder that sport, at its best, is a place where everyone belongs.