Global Sports Calendar — 2026
2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for global sport. From the Australian Open, Six Nations and Winter Olympics to the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, The Open, the Commonwealth Games and the US Open, the calendar is stacked with world‑class competitions across every major discipline.
Whichever sport you follow, 2026 has something big on the horizon.
January
TENNIS
Australian Open
12.1 – 1.2.26 — Melbourne, Australia
FOOTBALL
21.12.25 – 18.1.26 — Morocco
HANDBALL
15.1 – 1.2.26 — Denmark, Norway & Sweden
BIATHLON
The Biathlon World Cup is the top‑level international competition series in biathlon, organised annually by the International Biathlon Union (IBU). Biathlon combines cross‑country skiing and rifle shooting, making it one of the most physically and mentally demanding winter sports.
8.1 – 11.1.26 — Oberhof, Germany
February
The Six Nations Championship is an annual Rugby Union tournament featuring six European teams: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. It is one of the key events in the international rugby calendar, known for its fierce competition and passionate rivalries.
March
MOTORSPORT
The Australian Grand Prix is an annual Formula One motor racing event held in Melbourne and is one of the oldest continuously running motorsport competitions in Australia.
5.3 – 8.3.26 — Melbourne, Australia
MULTI-SPORTS
The Winter Paralympic Games is a global multi‑sport event showcasing elite athletes with physical disabilities competing in snow and ice disciplines. It brings together participants with mobility impairments, limb differences, visual impairments, and conditions such as cerebral palsy, celebrating high‑performance sport and inclusive excellence.
6.3 – 15.3.26 — Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
The 21st World Athletics Indoor Championships are scheduled to take place from March 20–22, 2026, in Toruń, Poland, at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń. The championships will feature morning and evening sessions across the three days.
20.3 – 22.3.26 — Toruń, Kuyavian–Pomeranian, Poland
HORSE RACING
The Dubai World Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious and richest Thoroughbred horse races, held annually at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Beyond racing, it is a major social event known for high fashion, luxury hospitality, and spectacular closing ceremonies featuring fireworks and drones.
28.3.26 — Dubai, UAE
April
The Grand National is an annual National Hunt horse race held at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. The first run was in 1839, and it is one of the most famous horse races in the world.
9.4 – 11.4.26 — Liverpool, England
The Masters is one of golf’s major tournaments, played each April at the Augusta National Golf Club. First held in 1934, it was won by Horton Smith of the USA.
9.4 – 12.4.26 — Augusta, Georgia, USA
TABLE TENNIS
| World Table Tennis Championships |
The World Table Tennis Championships are the most prestigious tournaments in the sport of table tennis, held annually. The events alternate each year between individual competitions (singles and doubles) and team competitions.
28.4 – 10.5.26 — London, England
The World Snooker Championship is a prestigious professional snooker tournament, offering prize money and ranking points. The first official championship was held in 1927 in Sheffield, England.
18.4 – 4.5.26 — Sheffield, England
May
The Kentucky Derby is the second oldest horse race in America, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. First raced on May 17, 1875, with 10,000 attendees, it has been a yearly tradition ever since.
2.5.26 — Louisville, USA
FOOTBALL
The FA Cup Final is the culmination of the world’s oldest national football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, and is a major event in English football. The competition was first played during the 1871-72 season, making it the oldest national football competition in the world.
16.5.26 — Wembley Stadium, London, England
TENNIS
The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is one of the four major annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is considered the world’s premier clay court championship. Held over two weeks in late May and early June at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, it is chronologically the second Grand Slam event of the year.
24.5 – 7.6.26 — Paris, France
GOLF
The PGA Championship is one of the four major annual championships in men’s professional golf, run by the PGA of America. It features one of the strongest fields in golf, and the winner receives the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy.
11.5 – 17.5.26 — Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA
The UEFA Champions League Final is the pinnacle of European club football, where the continent’s top teams compete for the most coveted club trophy. Its significance extends beyond the match itself, with a rich history and global reach.
30.5.26 — Budapest, Hungary
FOOTBALL
The UEFA Women’s Champions League final is the showpiece event of the premier women’s club football competition in Europe. The competition features top European clubs competing annually. A new format with an 18-team league phase was introduced for the 2025-26 season.
23.5.25 — Oslo, Norway
MOTORSPORT
| Indianapolis 500 |
The Indianapolis 500 (Indy 500), billed as is an iconic 500-mile automobile race held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. It is the premier event of the IndyCar Series and forms the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
24.5.26 — Speedway, Indiana, USA
RUGBY
| European Rugby Champions Cup Final |
The European Rugby Champions Cup Final is the final match of Europe’s premier club rugby union competition. The competition was founded in 1995 as the Heineken Cup and features top clubs from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales.
23.5.26 — Bilbao, Spain
ICE HOCKEY
| IIHF World Championship |
The IIHF World Championship, also known as the Men’s Ice Hockey World Championship, is the premier annual international tournament in the sport, organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). It brings together the world’s top national teams to compete at the highest level of international ice hockey.
15.5 – 31.5.26 — Zurich & Fribourg, Switzerland
June
HOCKEY
The Stanley Cup Final is the championship series of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) annual playoffs and the culmination of the season. The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America’s oldest professional sports trophy.
3.6 – 10.6.26 — NHL arenas in the U.S. and Canada
BASKETBALL
| NBA Finals |
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs, where the champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences compete for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The series is played in a best-of-seven format, meaning the first team to win four games becomes the champion.
4.6 – 21.6.26 — home arenas of the two qualifying teams
MOTORSPORT
| Monaco Grand Prix |
The Monaco Grand Prix is an iconic Formula One motor racing event, widely considered one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. Held annually on the narrow and challenging Circuit de Monaco street circuit in late May or early June, it is known for its glamour and demanding nature for drivers.
4.6 – 7.6.26 — Monte Carlo, Monaco
MOTORSPORT
| 24 Hours of Le Mans |
The 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures du Mans) is the world’s oldest active endurance sports car race, held annually since 1923 near the city of Le Mans, France. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in motorsport, it forms part of the sport’s famed “Triple Crown,” alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500.
10.6 – 14.6.26 — Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France
GOLF
The U.S. Open is the annual national championship of golf in the United States and is one of the four men’s major championships. It is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in golf, known for its challenging course setups with narrow fairways, thick rough, and fast greens.
18.6 – 21.6.26 — Southampton, New York, USA
FOOTBALL
| FIFA World Cup |
The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most prestigious and widely viewed international football (soccer) tournament, featuring the senior men’s national teams of FIFA’s member associations. Held every four years since 1930, it has grown into a global spectacle that brings together billions of fans across the planet.
11.6 – 19.7.26 — Canada, USA, Mexico
TENNIS
Wimbledon, formally known as “The Championships”, is the oldest and arguably most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. It is one of the four annual Grand Slam events, held every summer at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London.
29.6 – 12.7.26 — Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom
CRICKET
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is one of the premier global events in women’s cricket, bringing together the top national teams to compete in the fast‑paced Twenty20 format. Held every two years, the tournament showcases the highest level of skill, athleticism, and international competition in the women’s game, while continuing to elevate the sport’s global profile.
12.6 – 5.7.26 — England & Wales
July
MULTI-SPORT
The Commonwealth Games, often called the “Friendly Games,” is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. It is unique for its integration of para-sports into the main program and its long history dating back to 1930.
23.7 – 2.8.26 — Glasgow, Scotland
4.7 – 26.7.26 — Barcelona, Spain to Paris, France
GOLF
The Open Championship, often referred to as the British Open, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious major championships in professional golf, first contested in 1860. The 154th edition of this historic tournament is scheduled to be held from July 12–19, 2026, at the challenging Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
12.7 – 19.7.26 — Southport, England
The AIG Women’s Open is one of the five major championships in women’s professional golf and is organized by The R&A. It is considered the most international major in golf and is held annually in the United Kingdom on historic links courses, similar to The Open Championship for men.
29.7 – 2.8.26 — Lancashire, England
August
TENNIS
The US Open is the fourth and final annual Grand Slam tennis tournament, renowned for its lively atmosphere in New York City and its unique history of adopting innovations like night play and the tiebreaker system.
30.8 – 13.9.26 — New York City, USA
ATHLETICS
The European Athletics Championships is the foremost biennial continental outdoor athletics competition for Europe, first held in 1934. It brings together the continent’s top athletes to compete for individual medals and national pride.
10.8 – 16.8.26 — Birmingham, United Kingdom
September
MULTI-SPORT
The Asian Games, also known as the Asiad, are a massive continental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from all over Asia. They are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and are widely considered the second-largest multi-sport event in the world, following only the Olympic Games
19.9 – 4.10.26 — Nagoya, Japan
CYCLING
The UCI Road World Championships are the annual world championships for bicycle road racing, where athletes represent their national teams rather than their professional trade teams. Winners are awarded the iconic rainbow jersey, which they are entitled to wear in their respective discipline for a full year.
20.9 – 27.9.26 — Montréal, Canada
BASKETBALL
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is the premier international women’s basketball tournament, held every four years and organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). It features the top national teams in the world competing for the gold medal.
4.9 – 13.9.26 — Germany
The Solheim Cup is a biennial match-play golf tournament for professional women golfers, contested by teams representing the United States and Europe. It is the women’s counterpart to the men’s Ryder Cup and is widely considered the most prestigious team trophy in women’s professional golf.
7.9 – 13.9.26 — Cromvoirt, Netherlands
October
RUGBY
15.10 – 15.11.26 — Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
RUGBY
The Women’s Rugby League World Cup is the top international competition for women’s national teams in the sport of rugby league, held every four years. The upcoming 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, running concurrently with the men’s tournament.
16.10 – 15.11.26 — Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
BASEBALL
23.10.26 — TBA
CYCLING
The Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships is the premier annual global competition for track cycling, held every year since 1893. Winners in each discipline are awarded the prestigious rainbow jersey, which they wear in competition for the following year.
14.10 – 18.10.26 — Shanghai, China
November
3.11.26 — Victoria, Australia
MOTORSPORT
The final round of the MotoGP season, traditionally the Valencia Grand Prix, serves as the dramatic culmination of the motorcycle racing year at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, Spain. Known for its unique stadium-style layout that offers fans an unparalleled view of the entire 4.0 km track, the event typically hosts over 200,000 spectators who gather to witness the season’s final battles and podium celebrations.
20.11 – 22.11.26 — Valencia, Spain
TENNIS
24.11 – 29.11.26 — Bologna, Italy
TENNIS
24.11 – 29.11.26 — Bologna, Italy
December
MULTI-SPORT
World Aquatics Championships
1.12 – 6.12.26 — Beijing, China
MOTORSPORT
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the final race of the annual Formula 1 World Championship season, held at the stunning Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. It is renowned for its spectacular setting, which features a track that winds around a marina and passes beneath the illuminated W Hotel, culminating in a dramatic end to the F1 season under floodlights.
4.12 – 6.12.26 — Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi