If you’re a sports fan, 2026 is going to be your year with World Cups and other major sporting events being lined up for you. This could end up being the busiest year for a sports fanatic, with the main attraction being the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Cricket fans will see two T20 World Cups happen for both the men’s and women’s teams battling it out for the top prize. The U-19 World Cup will also take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia with the Indian team containing young stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre leading the way.
Tennis will witness all the four grand slams taking place and the Formula One season is expected to be one of the most exciting campaigns in recent memory with the new rules and regulations coming into place. This year will also see the Indian men’s team head to the Netherlands and Belgium with the aim of winning the hockey World Cup and the Indian athletes aiming to win medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
Chess will see the FIDE Candidates tournament and then D Gukesh try to retain his crown during the World Chess Championship 2026. So, buckle in your seatbelts as it is going to be a thrilling ride in 2026 for sports enthusiasts all around the globe.
CRICKET
Women’s Premier League
January 9 – February 5 – Vadodara and Navi Mumbai, India
ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup
January 15 – February 6, 2026 — Zimbabwe & Namibia
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
February 7 – March 8, 2026 — India & Sri Lanka
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Late March – Late May 2026 — India
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
June 12 – July 5, 2026 — England
TENNIS
Australian Open
Mid-January – Early February 2026 — Melbourne, Australia
French Open
Late May – Early June 2026 — Paris, France
Wimbledon Championships
Late June – Mid-July 2026 — London, England
US Open
Late August – Early September 2026 — New York, USA
WTA Finals
November 7 – 14, 2026 — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Davis Cup Finals
November 24 – 29, 2026 — Bologna, Italy
ATP Finals
December 15 – 22, 2026 — Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
FOOTBALL
FIFA World Cup
June 11 – July 19, 2026 — USA, Canada & Mexico
FIFA World Cup Final
July 19, 2026 — New Jersey, USA
UEFA Champions League Final
May 30, 2026 — Budapest, Hungary
BADMINTON
BWF World Championships
Late August – Early September 2026 — New Delhi, India
BWF World Tour Finals
December 9 – 13, 2026 — Hangzhou, China
HOCKEY
FIH Hockey World Cup
August 14 – 30, 2026 — Netherlands & Belgium
BASKETBALL
NBA Finals
From June 4, 2026 — USA
FIBA Women’s World Cup
September 4 – 13, 2026 — Berlin, Germany
CHESS
FIDE Candidates Tournament
March 28 – April 16, 2026 — Cyprus
World Chess Championship 2026
(Dates & venue TBA)
MOTORSPORT
Formula 1 Season Opener – Australian Grand Prix
March 8, 2026 — Melbourne, Australia
Formula 1 Season Finale
December 4 – 6, 2026 — Abu Dhabi, UAE
GOLF
The Masters
April 9 – 12, 2026 — Augusta, Georgia, USA
The Open Championship
Mid-July 2026 — Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), England
CYCLING
Tour de France
July 4 – 26, 2026 — France
BASEBALL
World Baseball Classic
March 5 – 17, 2026 — Various locations
MLB Opening Day
March 26, 2026 — USA
MLB World Series
From October 23, 2026 — USA
MULTI-SPORT EVENTS
Winter Olympics
February 6 – 22, 2026 — Milan-Cortina, Italy
Commonwealth Games
July 23 – August 2, 2026 — Glasgow, Scotland
Asian Games
September 19 – October 4, 2026 — Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
WWE
WWE Royal Rumble
January 31- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
WWE Elimination Chamber
February 28- Chicago, USA
WWE WrestleMania 42 – Night 1
April 18- Las Vegas, USA
WWE WrestleMania 42 – Night 2
April 19 – Las Vegas, USA
WWE SummerSlam
August 1 & 2 – Minneapolis, USA
WWE Money in the Bank
September 6 – New Orleans, USA
– Ends
