Estonia to Host 2029 Disc Golf World Championships as PDGA Sets Bold Multi-Year Vision for Europe
With a strong foundation in place, disc golf in Europe is primed to keep building.
A new multi-year plan, centered around an elevated role from PDGA Europe and a multi-year agreement with Team Disc Golf Estonia, will serve as the cornerstones for continued growth and exposure.
The PDGA is excited to announce that Estonia, hosts of the PDGA Major European Disc Golf Festival this summer, will once again host European PDGA Majors in 2026 and 2028, setting the stage for the second PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships to be hosted in Europe.
“The PDGA is excited to work with Team Disc Golf Estonia to host the 2029 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships in Tallinn, Estonia,” PDGA Executive Director Doug Bjerkaas said. “While the awarding of this PDGA Major is a bit non-traditional, it is the right time to make this decision. Team Disc Golf Estonia submitted an outstanding bid to host Pro Worlds in either 2026 or 2027 during the 2024 bid cycle window. Up against two very strong bids in the United States and knowing that Finland was hosting the first European Pro Worlds in 2025, the PDGA made the decision to return to the U.S. for Pro Worlds in 2026 and 2027.
“That decision laid the groundwork for an even more exciting timeline for professional disc golf in Estonia and Europe. The talented event organizers in Estonia have established a relationship with the government in Estonia, which provides a great deal of support to the events that they run. The team already has a proven track record of running top-tier events as they have risen from A-Tier status to the Elite Series in 2024 and a PDGA Major in 2025. A multi-year commitment from the PDGA has allowed an even greater commitment from the country of Estonia to support both the 2029 PDGA Pro Worlds event, and the European-based PDGA Major in 2026 and 2028.”
The stepping stones have now turned to stepping blocks for the Estonian team, whose goal is simple and already proven in just a short time in the international and premier disc golf spotlight: Continuous improvement.
“We really have one main goal, and that’s to make each event the best disc golf event ever held. Every year, we aim to raise the bar, improve every detail, and create an unforgettable experience for players, spectators, and fans around the world,” Team Estonia Disc Golf Director of Operations Matthias Vutt said. “Whether it’s the layout of the course, the fan experience, the media coverage, or the overall organization, we’re committed to delivering something truly world-class. It’s all about setting a new standard each time and building up to something truly spectacular by the time we reach the 2029 Pro Worlds.”
MAJOR RISK: A look behind the scenes in Estonia 2024
In a break from the norm, not the set protocol, from the PDGA Major bid process, this multi-year agreement enables all parties to truly hone in on setting a new standard year-in and year-out.
For Estonia, that means, on top of elevating every other aspect of the event, finding a second course option. Currently, the European Disc Golf Festival is held on the hallowed land of the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, a symbol of Estonian’s national spirit where hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered and sang together in a peaceful call for independence from the Soviet Union. Vutt said the team is currently exploring two options, the Kadriorg Presidential Park — yes, where the president lives — as well as another nearby forested area that allow them to build a world-class course.
“What’s really exciting is that we now have a clear vision for the next four years,” Vutt said. “This long-term plan allows us to focus on the big picture. It means that we can build stronger relationships with our partners, from the city and government to Enterprise Estonia and our local sponsors and really fine-tune every aspect of the event without wondering what’s next.
“The goal is to make every year feel like the best event we’ve ever hosted. We want each edition to raise the bar just a bit higher. And while every year will be special, 2029 Pro Worlds will be something truly unforgettable, a celebration of everything we’ve built and a showcase of what Estonia and European disc golf are capable of.”
ALL EYES ON EUROPE
This same build up follows the path of Finland’s Jussi Meresmaa, who built the European Open PDGA Major into a prestigious event over the past decade-plus. Meresmaa and his team will welcome the first PDGA Pro Worlds to be held in Europe this summer, a historic achievement that will welcome in a truly international field of almost 300 competitors representing over a projected 45 countries.
PDGA Europe Tour Manager Matěj Verl has been on hand for the meteoric rise of premier disc golf in Europe and, with the rest of the team at PDGA Europe, will oversee the bid process of the European PDGA Majors in 2027 and 2029.
“Having been part of the grassroots of PDGA Europe since 2019, it’s incredibly rewarding to see our growing recognition and influence. From helping evolve the PDGA Euro Tour into what is now DGPT Europe, to hosting the first-ever PDGA Pro Worlds in Finland this year and already announcing the second in Estonia for 2029 — the progress has been remarkable,” Verl said. “Being able to independently award European Majors as a self-governing body of our beloved sport in 2027, 2029 and on is a tremendous milestone. It highlights just how far and how fast disc golf has evolved in Europe. The balance is clearly shifting across the ocean, and with that comes great responsibility. Let’s make the most of it.”
2028 PDGA Pro Worlds will still follow the existing bid process, which will begin this summer, and the goal for everyone involved around the world remains the same.
“As we mature as a professional sport, we will need to continue to schedule further out for the premier events in disc golf to continue elevating these events to their highest-possible level,” Bjerkaas said. “This is an example of us doing so.”