More than 120 athletes from 21 countries are expected to take part in the competition from October 28 to 30.

The event is being held over three days for the first time to accommodate the growing number of events and athletes.

Today's announcement comes two weeks after New Taipei City was named the host of the inaugural IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Asian Championships.

"Following on from the announcement that the first Asian Championships will be staged in November, we are delighted to work with the Slovak Paralympic Committee on the second regional Championships of the year," said Xavier Gonzalez, chief executive of the IPC.

"It is clear that wheelchair dance sport is growing in its reach and influence, and I have no doubt that the standard of competition will continue to increase in Košice as it has done all around the world in recent seasons."

The organisers are said to be pleased to include the European Championships within their plans to grow sport participation for all in Slovakia, and more specifically Košice, which last year was named the European Capital of Sport for 2016 by the European Capitals of Sport Association.

"We are really glad that the Wheelchair Dance Sport European Championships will be part of our rich programme for the European City of Sport 2016," said Richard Raši, Mayor of the city of Košice.

"We are grateful for the support of the Slovak Paralympic Committee and for the trust of the International Paralympic Committee who have decided that Košice will be honoured by the organisation of this event.

"The event will help us in achieving our goal that the European City of Sport 2016 may become everyone’s project, and a project about people who love sports and physical activities."

The last European Championships were held in Polish town of Lomianki in 2014 and were the first to be staged since 2009.

The competition featured 112 athletes from 18 countries and saw the debut of singles dances at a major international event.

This year, a full programme of singles, combi and duo dances in standard, Latin American and freestyle will be contested at the Košice Sport Hall.

"I am glad that after the significant achievements of Slovak athletes in wheelchair dance sport, that we were successful in bidding for the European Championships," said Jan Riapos, President of the Slovak Paralympic Committee.

"This year will be highly important for the entire Paralympic family.

"Slovakia is a successful organiser and I believe that in combination with the European City of Sport Košice 2016, there is the chance to organise an excellent event."

Today’s announcement also comes as the season got under way in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on Saturday (April 9).

The Suomi Open in Lohja, Finland will follow from April 30 to May 1 before dancers head to Frankfurt, Germany for the Mainhatten Cup between May 28 and 29.

They will then compete at the IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia from September 10 to 12.