With the FIFA World Cup and Winter Olympics ahead, 2026 promises to be one of the most compelling sporting years in recent memory. Fans across the globe can look forward to a packed schedule, featuring events across football, winter sports, cycling, tennis, and more. The range is wide: from world championships in cyclocross to four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and a long list of major international finals. This preview highlights the key competitions that will shape the year.
The opening weeks of 2026 immediately set the tone. On Saturday 30 January and Sunday 1 February, the fortified city of Hulst in the Netherlands will host the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships. Home favorite Mathieu van der Poel, already a dominant figure in off-road racing, will eye a potential eighth world title. The atmosphere is expected to be electric, as thousands of fans gather to watch one of the country’s greatest cyclists chase history on home soil.
Just weeks later, the world’s attention shifts south to the Italian Alps. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will welcome athletes for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Speed skating is once again the main hope for the Dutch delegation, but the programme offers much more: alpine skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, figure skating, and snowboarding promise dramatic moments throughout the competition. As always, the Games will provide a global stage for emerging talents, national pride, and unforgettable stories.
American sport will also shine brightly. Super Bowl LX will be held on Sunday 8 February 2026 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The event remains one of the world’s most watched spectacles, both for the game itself and its iconic entertainment. Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny headlines the halftime show, guaranteeing global attention far beyond traditional NFL audiences.
Later in the year, football takes centre stage. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, hosted for the first time across three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament expands to 48 teams and features 104 matches. The opening game takes place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The draw held on 5 December 2025 brought excitement for both the Netherlands and Belgium. The Dutch enter Group F, facing Japan and Tunisia, with their first match scheduled for 14 June in Dallas. Belgium finds itself in Group G/H, set to play Egypt and Iran among others. With sixteen host cities including Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas, the event will showcase football across an entire continent.
Cycling: Giro, Tour, Vuelta and the World Championships
Cycling remains one of Europe’s most closely followed sports. In May, the Giro d’Italia 2026 marks the first Grand Tour of the year, setting the tone for riders targeting the Tour de France later in July. The French race, the crown jewel of road cycling, will again draw millions of viewers, expecting fierce battles in the mountains and suspense until Paris. The Vuelta a España traditionally completes the Grand Tour trilogy toward the end of the season, often with late-year surprises and breakthrough performances. Alongside these tours, the Cycling World Championships will offer another opportunity for riders to demonstrate peak form, with the rainbow jersey as one of the most prestigious prizes of the sport.
Tennis: Four Grand Slams define the season
Tennis enthusiasts will enjoy a full Grand Slam calendar. The Australian Open opens the year, followed by Roland Garros in May and June, where clay court specialists attempt to dethrone the dominant favourites. Wimbledon in July brings tradition, precision, and grass-court mastery, before the US Open in August and September closes the season with fast-paced battles in New York. The tennis season traditionally ends with the WTA Finals (7-14 November) and the ATP Finals (15-22 November). Each event carries its own culture and narrative, creating a rhythm that defines the global tennis year.
With football, winter sports, cycling, tennis, motorsport, and European club finals on the schedule, 2026 stands ready to deliver a season filled with drama and unforgettable moments for sports fans worldwide.