Registration opens for 25th Annual HCA Florida Healthcare Gainesville Senior Games

Registration is now open for the 25th Annual HCA Florida Healthcare Gainesville Senior Games, returning this September.

Courtesy of HCA Florida Healthcare

Key Points

Registration is now open for the 25th Annual HCA Florida Healthcare Gainesville Senior Games, returning this September for a milestone celebration of athletic competition, healthy living, and community engagement.

Athletes from across the region are invited to compete, connect, and experience the excitement of “Competing in the Swamp” as the Gainesville Senior Games celebrate their 25th anniversary.

For the past 25 years, the Gainesville Senior Games have welcomed more than 600 athletes annually, providing opportunities for active adults to showcase their athletic talents, build friendships, and promote lifelong wellness through sports. Organizers said the 2026 anniversary event will continue that tradition while welcoming both returning competitors and first-time participants.

The 25th Annual Gainesville Senior Games will take place over two weekends — Sept. 11-13 and Sept. 18-20 — featuring a variety of sports and competitions for senior athletes.

The 2026 event schedule includes:

Sept. 11 — Golf
Sept. 12 — Archery and Pickleball Doubles
Sept. 13 — Swimming and Pickleball Mixed Doubles
Sept. 18 — Cycling
Sept. 19 — Pétanque and Track and Field
Sept. 20 — Table Tennis and Volleyball

Organizers credited title sponsor HCA Florida Healthcare for its continued support in helping make the Gainesville Senior Games possible and for promoting healthy, active lifestyles throughout the community.

The Gainesville Senior Games are sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation and serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 Florida Senior Games, scheduled for Dec. 5-13 on Florida’s Sports Coast. The top five finishers in each age group and sport will qualify for the statewide competition, excluding open events.

The 2026 Florida Senior Games will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma, scheduled for June 30 through July 11, 2027.

Athletes and community members can find registration details, event locations, start times, order of events, and additional information at the Gainesville Sports Commission. Registration and payment must be received by Aug. 30 (Mail-in entry deadline is Aug. 21). Late registrations are not guaranteed acceptance.

For more information about the Gainesville Senior Games, contact Emily Grissom at egrissom@gainesvillesportscommission.com. Sponsorship inquiries may be directed to Bridgette Welch at bwelch@gainesvillesportscommission.com.