Empire State Games news
Selected announcements, programme changes, and historical milestones.
This page collects notable announcements and milestones across the four Empire State Games editions. For each active edition’s current information, follow the outbound link to the responsible organisation.
2026 editions confirmed
The three active editions all have 2026 dates in place:
- Winter Games — 46th annual. 5–8 February 2026, Lake Placid. Programme includes the USAT Winter Triathlon National Championships. empirestatewintergames.com
- Senior Games. June 2026, Cortland. Registration deadline 23 May. nyseniorgames.com
- Games for the Physically Challenged. 16–17 October 2026, The College at Brockport. empirestategamespc.org
Historical milestones
- 1978 — first Empire State Games held at Syracuse University. The first U.S. state games.
- 1981 — Winter edition added, based in Lake Placid.
- 1985 — Games for the Physically Challenged founded; first U.S. state to run a free state-level adapted youth sports programme.
- 1988 — Senior Games founded, based in Cortland.
- 2009 — Summer Games cancelled for the first time, due to state budget crisis.
- 2010 — Summer Games held at reduced scale in the Mohawk Valley; state funding ends for all four editions.
- 2010–2011 — community organisations take on the Winter, Senior, and Physically Challenged editions; the Summer Games are not held.
- April 2014 — Empire State Sports Foundation, the non-profit set up to take the Summer Games private, announces its intention to disband. The Summer Games are not revived.