Register free for this event here.
The Office of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner is delighted to invite members of the Armed Forces, Veteran and local community to a special Invictus Evening, ahead of the Invictus Games returning to the UK in Birmingham in 2027.
Hosted by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Brian Higginson, the evening will take place on:
Date: Thursday 1 October 2026
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Place: Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn
This free event promises to be an enjoyable and inspiring evening celebrating the Invictus spirit and the remarkable role that sport, camaraderie and community can play in recovery and rehabilitation.
A very special guest
We are delighted to be joined by Johnny Ball, an Invictus Games Foundation team member, former Invictus competitor and host of the Veterans in Politics podcast.
Johnny will share his experiences of Invictus and offer an insight into the community and spirit that sit at the heart of the Games.
The evening will provide an opportunity to hear first-hand about the Invictus journey, meet others from across the Armed Forces and veteran community, and look ahead to the excitement of the Games returning to the United Kingdom.
What are the Invictus Games?
The Invictus Games were first held in London in September 2014, bringing together more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and veterans from 13 nations. Competitors took part in ten sports across venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Since then, Invictus has grown into an international movement that uses the power of sport to support recovery, rehabilitation and a renewed sense of purpose for wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans.
At the heart of Invictus is much more than sporting competition. It is about recovery, resilience, friendship and recognising what people can achieve after injury or illness.
Did you know?
The word Invictus is Latin for “unconquered”, reflecting the determination and fighting spirit of the men and women who take part.
The Games have travelled around the world since London 2014, with host cities including Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, The Hague and Düsseldorf, followed by the first Winter hybrid Games in Vancouver and Whistler in 2025.
And in 2027, Invictus is coming home!
Birmingham will host the eighth Invictus Games from 10–17 July 2027, marking the first time the Games have been held in the UK since their launch in London in 2014.
The Games will be centred at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), with swimming taking place at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. Alongside established Invictus sports, Birmingham 2027 will feature new additions including esports, pickleball and laser run.
Birmingham also has a particularly meaningful connection to the Armed Forces community. During the Afghanistan conflict, some of the most seriously injured Service personnel were treated in Birmingham, and the city remains home to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
Join us in Lisburn
Our Invictus Evening will be an opportunity to celebrate that extraordinary story here in Northern Ireland and, importantly, to bring our own veteran and Armed Forces community together as we look ahead to Birmingham 2027.
Whether you have followed the Invictus Games from the beginning, have competed or supported someone who has, or simply want to learn more about what Invictus represents, we would be delighted to welcome you.
Come along, hear some great stories, meet others from across the community and help us celebrate the Invictus spirit here in Northern Ireland.
Attendance is FREE, but registration is required.
Register now at www.nivco.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you to Lagan Valley Island on Thursday 1 October for what promises to be a very special evening.