Key Sports Events to Watch in 2026

Get your passports ready and clear your schedules. The year 2026 is officially set to be the busiest, most ambitious, and most geographically diverse year in the history of modern sports. From the first serve in Melbourne to the final whistle in Nagoya, the world is transforming into a giant stadium

1. The Summer Opener: Australian Open

January 12 – February 1 | Melbourne Park, Australia The year kicks off in the sweltering "Happy Slam." As the world shakes off the New Year, the blue hardcourts of Melbourne Park will host the world’s elite. Expect high-drama night sessions under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, where physical endurance is tested by the relentless Australian heat.

2. The Alpine Masterpiece: Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

February 6 – 22 | Milan & Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy The Olympic flame returns to the snow, but with a twist. This is a sprawling "dual-city" Games. While Milan provides a cosmopolitan backdrop for ice sports, the stunning Dolomites of Cortina will host the high-speed thrill of alpine skiing. Keep an eye on the debut of Ski Mountaineering, a grueling addition to the winter program.

3. The Sub-Continent’s Roar: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

February 7 – March 8 | India & Sri Lanka Cricket returns to its spiritual heartland. Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, this tournament promises a carnival atmosphere. From the iconic Wankhede Stadium to the coastal beauty of Colombo, 20 teams will battle in the sport’s most explosive format, where every ball can change the course of history.

4. National Pride on the Diamond: World Baseball Classic

March 5 – 17 | USA, Japan, Puerto Rico Baseball takes a break from the club grind to let national colors shine. With pool play across Tokyo and San Juan, and the finals at LoanDepot Park in Miami, the WBC has become the premier international baseball showcase, bringing a World Cup atmosphere to the diamond.

5. Resilience Unleashed: Winter Paralympics

March 6 – 15 | Milan & Cortina, Italy Following the Olympic thrill, the world’s most resilient athletes take to the Italian slopes. The 2026 Paralympics will highlight the 50th anniversary of the Winter Games, featuring para-alpine skiing and the fan-favorite wheelchair curling, proving that the human spirit knows no limits.

6. The Holy Grail of Golf: The Masters

April 9 – 12 | Augusta National, USA Spring officially arrives when the azaleas bloom at Augusta. The quest for the Green Jacket remains the most prestigious individual pursuit in golf. In 2026, the tradition-steeped fairways of Georgia will once again test the nerves of the world's best.

7. The Toughest Test: PGA Championship

May 11 – 17 | Aronimink Golf Club, USA May bring the "strongest field in golf" to Pennsylvania. Aronimink Golf Club, known for its historic layout and punishing greens, will host the 108th playing of this major, requiring tactical brilliance and absolute precision.

8. The Red Clay Grind: French Open

May 24 – June 7 | Roland Garros, France Tennis moves to Paris for the ultimate test of stamina. Roland Garros is a war of attrition, where the red clay of Philippe Chatrier stadium slows down the ball and favors the tacticians who can survive five-hour marathons under the Parisian sun.

9. North American Giants: FIFA Men’s World Cup

June 11 – July 19 | USA, Canada, Mexico The biggest sporting event on the planet reaches a new scale. For the first time, 48 teams will compete in 104 matches across an entire continent. From the thin air of Mexico City to the final showdown at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, football is taking over North America.

10. The Home of Cricket: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

June 12 – July 5 | England & Wales As the men play football in the West, the world’s best female cricketers head to the UK. The tournament culminates at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, providing a grand stage for a sport that is currently seeing a global explosion in viewership.

11. Tennis Royalty: Wimbledon

June 29 – July 12 | All England Club, United Kingdom The grass-court season reaches its peak on the hallowed lawns of SW19. Wimbledon remains the pinnacle of tennis tradition, where the quiet tension of the "Quiet Please" crowd meets the world-class power of the modern game.

12. The Compact Games: Commonwealth Games Glasgow

July 23 – August 2 | Glasgow, Scotland (UK) Returning to the city that hosted so brilliantly in 2014, Glasgow delivers a "reimagined" Commonwealth Games. Focused on sustainability and high-energy competition, the city’s compact venue plan ensures a festival atmosphere for the "Friendly Games."

13. Blue Turf Battles: FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup

August 14 – 30 | Belgium & Netherlands Field hockey takes center stage in two nations where the sport is a way of life. Co-hosted in Wavre and Amstelveen, the World Cup will feature the fastest sticks in the world playing on lightning-quick blue turf in front of some of the world's most knowledgeable fans.

14. The Big Apple Showdown: US Open

August 23 – September 13 | Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, USA The Grand Slam year concludes in the electric atmosphere of New York City. The US Open is known for its celebrity-filled crowds and rowdy night matches in the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the city's "never sleep" energy translates to the court.

15. The Rising Sun: Asian Games

September 19 – October 4 | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan The year’s multi-sport journey concludes in Japan. The 20th Asian Games will be a massive spectacle second only to the Summer Olympics. From traditional athletics to the cutting-edge inclusion of Esports, Aichi-Nagoya will showcase the future of global competition.

2026 Major Sports Calendar