Top 26 Major Sporting Events in 2026: Schedule, Dates, Location, Venues

2026 promises an action-packed year with multi-sport spectacles, World Cups, Grand Slams, and annual highlights. Here's a ranked list of the top 26 events by global significance, viewership, and prestige (dates and details as of December 31, 2025; subject to minor changes).

No. 1 Australian Open (Tennis Grand Slam) — Jan 12 – Feb 1, 2026, Melbourne, Australia.

No. 2 Winter Olympic Games — Feb 6 – Feb 22, 2026, Milano Cortina, Italy.

No. 3 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup — Feb 7 – Mar 8, 2026, India & Sri Lanka.

No. 4 Super Bowl LX (American Football) — Feb 8, 2026, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, USA.

No. 5 Six Nations Rugby Championship — Feb – Mar 2026, Europe.

No. 6 NBA All-Star Game — Feb 16, 2026, Intuit Dome, Los Angeles area, USA.

No. 7 Winter Paralympic Games — Mar 6 – Mar 15, 2026, Milano Cortina, Italy.

No. 8 World Baseball Classic — March 2026 (TBD), USA, Puerto Rico & Japan.

No. 9 Indian Premier League (IPL) — Mar – May 2026, India.

No. 10 The Masters (Golf Major) — April 2026 (second week), Augusta, USA.

No. 11 Kentucky Derby (Horse Racing) — May 2, 2026, Louisville, USA.

No. 12 PGA Championship (Golf Major) — May 2026, USA (venue TBD).

No. 13 Monaco Grand Prix (Formula 1) — Late May 2026, Monaco.

No. 14 Indy 500 (IndyCar Racing) — May 31, 2026, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA.

No. 15 French Open (Tennis Grand Slam) — May – June 2026, Paris, France.

No. 16 UEFA Champions League Final — May/June 2026 (TBD), Europe.

No. 17 FIFA World Cup (Men’s Football) — June 11 – July 19, 2026, USA, Canada & Mexico.

No. 18 Wimbledon (Tennis Grand Slam) — June 30 – July 13, 2026, London, UK.

No. 19 ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup — June – July 2026, England & Wales.

No. 20 Tour de France (Cycling) — July 2026 (early–mid July), France.

No. 21 The Open Championship (Golf Major) — Mid-July 2026, Royal Liverpool, England.

No. 22 Commonwealth Games — July 23 – Aug 2, 2026, Glasgow, Scotland.

No. 23 World Aquatics Championships — July – August 2026 (TBD), Singapore.

No. 24 UEFA European Athletics Championships — Aug 10 – Aug 16, 2026, Birmingham, UK.

No. 25 US Open (Tennis Grand Slam) — Aug – Sept 2026, New York, USA.

No. 26 World Athletics Ultimate Championship — Sept 11 – Sept 13, 2026, Budapest, Hungary.

No. 27 Ryder Cup (Golf) — September 2026 (TBD), USA.

No. 28: Solheim Cup (Women's Golf) - 11-13 September - in North Brabant, Netherlands

No. 29 Asian Games — Sept 19 – Oct 4, 2026, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

No. 30 Rugby League World Cup — Oct 15 – Nov 15, 2026, Australia, New Zealand & Papua New Guinea.

No. 31:  Dec. 4-6: Formula 1 season finale - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina

No. 32:  10 December to 2 January 2027: Darts - PDC World Championship, Alexandra Palace, London

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