The year 2026 promises to be a monumental one for global sport, packed with a thrilling roster of events that will captivate audiences worldwide. From the hard courts of Melbourne to the football pitches of North America, and from the hallowed turf of Wimbledon to the cycling roads of France, the calendar is a feast for fans. This guide details the key dates, defending champions, and major narratives set to define the next twelve months of competition.
Winter & Spring: Grand Slams, Six Nations, and Global Showpieces
The sporting year kicks off in earnest with the Australian Open in Melbourne from 12 January to 1 February. All eyes will be on Jannik Sinner as he aims to match Novak Djokovic's Open-era feat of winning three consecutive men's singles titles. In the women's draw, Madison Keys will defend her crown after last year's stunning final victory over Aryna Sabalenka. The event will also feature a nostalgic return for Roger Federer, playing in a special exhibition match at Melbourne Park for the first time since his 2022 retirement.
Rugby union takes centre stage next with the Men's and Women's Six Nations. The men's tournament runs from 5 February to 21 March, opening with a blockbuster clash as defending champions France host Ireland in Paris. England, under Steve Borthwick, will be targeting a first title since 2020. The Women's Six Nations follows from 11 April to 17 May, with England's Red Roses aiming for an unprecedented eighth successive championship, beginning their campaign against Ireland.
February is exceptionally busy, featuring the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina (6-22 February), where Ski Mountaineering makes its debut, and Team GB hopes to improve on its two-medal haul from Beijing. Immediately after, the cricketing world turns its attention to the Men's T20 World Cup (7 February - 8 March), co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with India defending their title. Stateside, Super Bowl LX takes place on 8 February at Levi's Stadium, where the Philadelphia Eagles will defend their NFL crown against a field no longer containing the dynasty-era Kansas City Chiefs.
Summer Spectacles: Football, Tennis, and a Historic Test
The summer of 2026 will be dominated by the expanded FIFA Men's World Cup, hosted for the first time by three nations: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Running from 11 June to 19 July and featuring 48 teams, the tournament sees Scotland return after a 28-year absence and England carrying the nation's hopes for a first World Cup win on foreign soil. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will begin their title defence in a group with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
On the British sporting scene, Wimbledon (29 June - 12 July) will see home fans dreaming of a first British singles champion since Andy Murray. Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, and Katie Boulter will lead the charge against champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Shortly before, The Open returns to Royal Birkdale (16-19 July), with Scottie Scheffler aiming to retain the Claret Jug after his dominant 2025 victory.
Cricket provides a historic moment as Lord's hosts its first-ever women's Test match when England face India from 10-13 July, marking 50 years since Rachael Heyhoe Flint first led a women's team out at the ground. The Women's T20 World Cup also takes place in England and Wales (12 June - 5 July), with New Zealand defending their title and England hoping for home success.
Autumn Highlights and Year-Round Thrills
The latter part of the year features the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (23 July - 2 August), a streamlined event aiming for financial sustainability with 10 core sports. Rugby league concludes its season with the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October, where Hull KR will aim to defend their treble. The sporting year culminates with the Rugby League World Cup (15 October - 15 November) in Australia and Papua New Guinea, where stopping the Australian Kangaroos' three-tournament winning streak will be the ultimate challenge.
Throughout the year, other major events include the Formula One World Championship (6 March - 6 December), featuring a new race in Madrid and Lando Norris defending his maiden title; the London Marathon on 26 April; the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands (11-13 September); and showpiece football finals for the men's and women's UEFA Champions League in Budapest and Oslo respectively.
