BowlingGP and the All Stars Youth Series (ASYS) have announced a new partnership aimed at creating more international opportunities for young bowlers across Europe.
The collaboration connects two youth tournament projects: BowlingGP NextGen in France and All Stars Youth Series in Slovakia.
The new partnership will allow both organizations to offer additional benefits to participants and encourage more young athletes to compete internationally.
The partnership will begin with special rewards at the All Stars Youth Series, taking place from August 28 to 30 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The prizes will be linked to BowlingGP's three youth events in the 2026 and 2027 - BowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin, BowlingGP team event in Reims Thillois and individual event BowlingGP NextGen in Grand-Quevilly. The exact rewards will remain a surprise for now and will be revealed later by the tournament organizers.
“This isn’t just about two tournaments. It’s about building a stronger European youth bowling community,” said Laurent Valcke, Tournament Director of BowlingGP events. “What convinced us most is that both BowlingGP NextGen and All Stars are true Under-21 events, giving young athletes a stage of their own, just as they have in many other sports.”
A Shared Vision for Youth Bowling
Both tournament projects were created to give young bowlers dedicated events where they can compete against players of a similar age and gain international experience.
BowlingGP builds its events around three main pillars: sport, entertainment and hospitality. Laurent Valcke believes youth tournaments should offer serious competition while also creating an experience that players, families and spectators can enjoy.
“We should create more than just a tournament. Every event should feel like a show, combining plenty of games to reward consistency with an exciting match play final where every shot matters, and the atmosphere is just as exciting for the spectators as it is for the players,” Laurent Valcke said.
“We shouldn’t be afraid to think outside the box. If we want bowling to grow, we need formats that are exciting, easy to follow and attractive not only for bowlers, but also for families, friends and people discovering our sport for the first time. By working together, we can build a calendar of international Under-21 events that young players look forward to every year.”
Laurent Valcke sees this collaboration between youth events in France and Slovakia as a small first step that could lead to a major leap forward for youth bowling in Europe.
“Our ambition goes far beyond this first step. We want to build a network of international Under-21 tournaments that actively support each other, promote one another and create more opportunities for young athletes,” Laurent Valcke said.
According to ASYS organizers Lenka Sulkova and Panagiotis Vardakis, cooperation between tournament organizers can also help attract sponsors and create more value for them while giving more young bowlers access to international competition.
“By connecting our tournaments, we encourage young athletes to travel, compete and develop in an international environment that challenges them both on and off the lanes. Working together also gives us greater opportunities to attract sponsors and reduce financial barriers, allowing more talented and hardworking young bowlers to participate,” the organizers said. “This collaboration will help create lifelong friendships, cultural exchange and stronger player development. Most importantly, it will help develop role-model athletes who inspire the next generation and attract more children to our sport.”
Four Youth Events Across France and Slovakia
The All Stars Youth Series 2026 will take place from August 27 to 30 at BNC
Hotel – Restaurant – Bowling in Bratislava, Slovakia.
The ASYS is open to players up to the age of 21 and features different competition categories. Each player will bowl two five-game qualification blocks on different oil patterns before the leading players advance to the final stages.
August 27–30, 2026 | BNC Bowling, Bratislava
Test your skill on the international stage! Open to all youth bowlers up to age 21 across different competitive categories!
Organizers have also confirmed that ASYS will return in July 2027, with the exact dates to be announced soon.
BowlingGP, meanwhile, will organize three youth events during the 2026–2027 season in France.
BowlingGP NextGen Saint-Maximin, an individual event, will take place on November 28-29 and will offer 12,000 euros in prizes.
The other two events will take place in 2027. BowlingGP NextGen Teams Reims Thillois, a unique team event featuring four-player teams, will be held on March 6–7. The season will then continue with the individual BowlingGP NextGen Grand-Quevilly on April 10–11, 2027.
