By Karen Gutiérrez

Posted March 26, 2026

 

The Transplant Games of America, the world’s largest Celebration of Life, will bring thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, patients on the waiting list, medical professionals, and supporters together for six days of athletic competitions, special events, and educational programming, to Denver, June 18-23.

 

A Transplant Games of America mentor and volunteer, Mark McIntosh, and the Denver Host Committee is bringing this inspiring event to Colorado. Since 1990, the Transplant Games have been held biennially in cities across the U.S., recognizing the success of organ, eye, and tissue donation while honoring the generosity of donors and their families.

 

We come together to honor the legacy of donors to raise the importance of donation and to celebrate those who have received the gift of life.”
Jennifer Prinz, Donor Alliance

 

The 2026 Games will feature 20 athletic and recreational competitions for transplant recipients and living donors, along with special events to engage and educate all attendees. Denver’s vibrant community and it being the home base of organizations like the American Transplant Foundation make this the perfect place to host such a meaningful event.

 

The Transplant Games of America hosted a press conference last week to promote the upcoming 2026 Transplant Games of America in Denver.

 

Organizers are excited to share the meaningful collaboration and welcome supporters to join the six-day event.

 

“So for those of you who may not know, the Transplant Games of America is a national multi-sport event held every two years to celebrate the life-saving gift, of organ, eye and tissue donation, it brings together out transplant recipients, our living donors our donor families, caregivers, medical teams and supporters from across the country,” said

Jennifer Prinz, President and CEO, Donor Alliance, at the press conference on March 19. “We come together to honor the legacy of donors to raise the importance of donation and to celebrate those who have received the gift of life.”

 

The mission of the 2026 Games is to achieve community awareness.

 

-To increase awareness to the life-restoring importance of organ, cornea, bone marrow, and tissue donation through the lives of the athlete-recipients and the lasting legacy of their donors.

 

-To involve the entire transplant community – healthcare providers, recipients, donors, donor families, individuals awaiting transplantation, recovery agencies, and other related organizations – in a shared mission to highlight the benefits of donation.

 

-To increase the number of individuals registering as donor candidates, state-by-state, and on the National Donate Life Registry by supporting existing campaigns, and harnessing the energy and drive of recipients through the Transplant Games events, partnerships, marketing, and related communications.

 

“The Transplant Games are a powerful metaphor for our work at Donor Alliance, a reminder that donation creates the possibility, restores hope and gives people the chance to experience moments like this one,” said Prinz. “We are deeply grateful to our transplant center partners.”

 

Last week’s event also included signatories on a flag, symbolic to the 2026 Games.

 

“Today’s flag signing is a powerful moment that represents the journey that connects all of us,” explained Andrew Menard, Team Rocky Mountain, Transplant Games of America. “Transplant recipients, donors, donor families, transplant professionals, and the team and donor alliance who make the gift of life possible.”

 

“Each signature tells a story of generosity, hope and second chances. The Transplant Games are more than a competition. It’s the celebration of life, a place where people come together to show what is possible after a transplant. Athletes will compete and medals will be worn, but the heart of the games is found in the moments in between friendships formed, the stories shared and the reminder that transplantation makes these moments possible,” said Menard. “It’s especially meaningful to host the 2026 Games here in Denver, our team continues to grow, reflecting the strength and resilience of this community.”

 

According to the American Transplant Foundation the need is great, there are over 104,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a life-saving transplant and over 1,300 in Colorado alone.

 

Bill Ryan, President and CEO of Transplant Life Foundation applauded the vast collaboration of partners who make organ transplants possible.

 

“All of you are a very real example of what we can achieve together,” praised Ryan, addressing the medical teams and organizations who were in attendance last week. “Participants are a reflection of the strength and resilience of our transplant community across the U.S. And the games are a way to educate our community about the immense need for organ donation.”

 

“Participants are a reflection of the strength and resilience of our transplant community across the U.S. And the games are a way to educate our community about the immense need for organ donation,” added Ryan. “In the last year, we did over 40,000 organ transplants in the United States. And yet we stand here today with 100,000 people + waiting for an organ, and we know we make that speech—that 15 to 17 will die on average every day because an organ is not available.”

 

“The Transplant Life Foundation is grateful for all of our partners,” said Ryan. “And to Donor Alliance, thank you so much for hosting this event and being such an integral part of the Games coming up in June; and our appreciation to the other transplant centers that are here today and hopefully make it happen along the way with many of our sponsors. This is an event to remember—you will never forget it.”

 

Prinz added, “This is a very touching moment for me personally. We’ve never been able to have the Transplant Games here. I’ve never been able to attend. I’m also a donor family and a recipient family myself. So, this is a meaningful opportunity for me personally. After 34 years working in the field, to be able to celebrate this with Team Rocky Mountains.” Watch a video of the press conference here.

 

For more information and how to get involved please visit: www.transplantgamesofamerica.org.

 

Karen Gutiérrez is an Independent Digital Journalist, story produced for El Semanario.