The 20th FAI World Paragliding Championships will take place in Niš, Serbia, from July 26 to August 7, 2027. The event is organized by the Aeronautical Union of Serbia with the support of the Municipality of Pantelej-Niš. The event directors are Željko Ovuka and Goran Vučković.  

The championship is sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Sports of Serbia, Niš City Council, the Aeronautical Union of Serbia, and several local sponsors. It will be held at the same location as the 16th European Paragliding Championships in 2022. The event headquarters may be set up at Hotel Ambasador, Hotel Tami, or the Officers' House in the center of Niš. These venues will provide an information desk, a briefing room for team leaders, and all necessary facilities.  

The Višegrad take-off site is situated at 1,040m ASL, with a height above the valley of 500-700m. The grassy slope ranges from 20º to 35º, facing S, SSE, SW, WSW, NW, and N. It is spacious enough to accommodate ten pilots launching simultaneously. The most common winds come from the south quadrant, with an average speed of 4m/s. There are no power lines, cables, or other hazards. A helicopter landing area is located 200m from the take-off site, with ample parking available for officials and visitors. Facilities include a water supply, shaded areas under sun shelters and trees, and mobile toilets.  

The Niška Banja take-off site is at 570m ASL, with a height above the valley of 350m. It has a grassy slope of 20º-30º and is oriented towards NW, N, and NE. The site can accommodate five pilots launching at the same time. Winds typically blow from the designated directions at an average speed of 3m/s. A helicopter landing area is located in Niška Banja, directly in front of the take-off zone. Water and shaded areas are available under sun shelters and trees.  

The task flying area offers multiple safe landing sites with minimal obstacles, all close to main asphalt roads. It extends 80km to the north, 70-100km to the south, 40km to the east, and 70km to the west. The northern area follows the Ibar River valley towards Zaječar or Knjaževac, with hills reaching 1,200m ASL and valleys descending to 150m, where the Niška Banja landing site is located. Pilots should be aware of highway power lines in this region.  

The area is moderately populated and well-connected by roads, including the Niš-Pirot-Dimitrovgrad and Niš-Leskovac-Lebane/Vlasotince motorways. The terrain consists of cultivated fields, pastures, and forested areas with medium to tall trees. The Nišava and Morava Rivers run through the valleys alongside the main motorways.  

Thermal conditions are typically strong and reliable, with lift rates ranging from 3 to 6m/s. The competition period was chosen to align with prevailing southwesterly winds, warm sunny weather, and low precipitation. The recommended maximum wind speed for launch and task flying is 6m/s. Thermals usually develop between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with a maximum lift of 7m/s. There are no strong valley winds, ensuring stable and predictable flying conditions.

Event website https://civlcomps.org/event/pg-worlds-2027

Test event website https://civlcomps.org/event/pre-pg-worlds-2026