5 months ago
1) Australian Open 12 January-1 February
Jannik Sinner will beryllium aiming to go only nan 2nd man successful nan Open era, aft Novak Djokovic, to triumph 3 consecutive Australian Open singles titles, while successful nan women’s tie Madison Keys will beryllium seeking to take sides nan title she landed via a daze triumph complete Aryna Sabalenka successful past year’s final. Elsewhere, Roger Federer is scheduled to return to Melbourne Park for nan first clip since retiring from tennis successful 2022 arsenic portion of a Battle of nan World No 1s match, alongside Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. “It still makes maine grin erstwhile I deliberation astir each nan moments I’ve had here,” said nan Swiss legend.
2) Men’s & Women’s Six Nations 5 February–21 March, 11 April-17 May
France statesman nan defence of their Six Nations crown successful blockbuster manner fixed they look Ireland successful Paris connected opening night. It should beryllium immoderate title betwixt nan sides who person won nan past 4 championships betwixt them. Elsewhere, Italy statesman their run against Scotland successful Rome while England return connected Wales astatine Twickenham, pinch Steve Borthwick’s men eyeing a first Six Nations title since 2020 connected nan backmost of an fantabulous autumn. Meanwhile, nan Red Roses statesman nan Women’s Six Nations pinch a location crippled against Ireland, hoping to extremity arsenic champions for an eighth twelvemonth successful succession.
3) Winter Olympics 6 February-22 February
Milano Cortina is nan big location for nan 25th version of these Games and, specifically, intends 116 events successful 8 sports taking spot astatine sites crossed Lombardy and north-east Italy during 19 days of competition, pinch Ski mountaineering making its debut connected nan Olympic programme. Team GB will beryllium seeking to amended connected nan 2 medals – 1 gold, 1 metallic – they won successful Beijing 4 years ago. Meanwhile, Team USA, who won 25 medals successful Beijing, person named Snoop Dogg arsenic their first ever honorary coach. Cold times await for nan man who sung Drop It Like It’s Hot. The Paralympic Winter Games return spot successful Milano Cortina betwixt 6-15 March.
4) Men’s T20 World Cup 7 February-8 March
India and Sri Lanka co-host nan 10th version of this tournament, pinch nan erstwhile seeking to take sides nan title they won successful a thrilling last against South Africa successful Barbados 2 years ago. Pakistan and nan Netherlands get proceedings nether measurement successful Colombo while England’s run originates pinch a lucifer against Nepal successful Mumbai connected nan 2nd time of competition. Their past acquisition of playing Twenty20 cricket successful nan subcontinent was a 4-1 bid conclusion to India past twelvemonth truthful each concerned, nary 1 much truthful than skipper Harry Brook, will beryllium hoping for a amended showing this clip around. The last takes spot astatine a yet-to-be confirmed venue connected 8 March.
5) Super Bowl LX 8 February
The Levi’s Stadium successful Santa Clara, California hosts nan 60th version of American football’s showpiece event. The Philadelphia Eagles will beryllium seeking to take sides nan title they won pinch a 40-22 demolition of nan Kansas City Chiefs successful New Orleans past year. That triumph stopped nan Chiefs winning a 3rd consecutive Super Bowl and they person zero chance of regaining their crown successful 2026 having missed retired connected nan playoffs for nan first clip since 2014. Their aureate era appears to beryllium good and genuinely over. Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – AKA Bad Bunny – will execute nan half-time show, marking nan first clip a Latin antheral creator has taken to this peculiar stage.
6) Formula One World Championship 6 March-6 December
The caller play will again commencement successful Australia, extremity successful Abu Dhabi and characteristic 24 races, but location is immoderate alteration to nan schedule, pinch Madrid hosting a Formula One title for nan first clip since 1981. The “Madring” circuit, which will incorporate thoroughfare and non-street sections, replaces nan Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix astatine Imola and becomes 1 of 2 F1 races successful Spain, alongside Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. There will beryllium a caller Cadillac squad arsenic good arsenic nan preamble of caller aerodynamics and powerfulness portion rules, while for Lando Norris nan purpose will beryllium for overmuch much of nan aforesaid aft his maiden title triumph successful 2025.
7) World Athletics Indoor Championships 20 March-22 March
The 21st version of this arena takes spot successful nan Polish metropolis of Toruń. More than 500 athletes from 120 teams will compete crossed 3 days of title astatine nan Arena Toruń, pinch men’s heptathlon getting nan action going connected nan opening morning. The first way champions will beryllium crowned that evening successful nan men’s 60m final. For Team GB, nan purpose is to amended connected nan 4 medals – 2 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze – they won astatine past year’s championships successful Nanjing. Jeremiah Azu and Amber Anning will nary uncertainty beryllium hoping they tin onslaught golden again having done truthful successful nan men’s 60m and women’s 400m respectively successful 2025.
8) The Masters 9 April-12 April
Rory McIlroy returns to nan segment of his top time. The Northern Irishman ended his agelong hold for a 5th awesome pinch a melodramatic playoff triumph complete Justin Rose astatine Augusta past year, successful nan process completing a profession expansive slam and a lifelong ambition. “I’m conscionable truthful proud to beryllium capable to telephone myself a Masters champion,” McIlroy said successful nan afterglow of victory. He will look various challenges successful his bid to reclaim nan greenish jacket, pinch nan world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, nan standout threat. Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele and JJ Spaun, who won 2025 US Open via an unthinkable 64-foot birdie putt astatine Oakmont Country Club, are among nan different contenders.
9) World Snooker Championship 18 April-4 May
For a 50th consecutive year, snooker’s premier title takes spot astatine nan Crucible. As ever, nan world’s top-16 players arsenic they guidelines aft nan 2026 Tour Championship will beryllium seeded and joined by a further 16 players from nan qualifying rounds, which return spot astatine nan English Institute of Sport, besides successful Sheffield, earlier successful April. China’s Zhao Xintong will beryllium hoping to take sides nan crown he won via a 18-12 triumph complete Mark Williams successful past year’s last and, successful nan process, break nan Crucible curse – nary first-time world champion has retained nan title since nan tourney moved to nan Crucible successful 1977.
10) London Marathon 26 April
One of nan astir celebrated days successful nan UK sporting almanac arsenic astir 40,000 group return connected nan 26.2-mile people from Greenwich Park to nan Mall, pinch nan show of elite runners competing successful nan aforesaid abstraction arsenic elephantine chickens and a man dressed arsenic Dorothy from nan Wizard of Oz ne'er failing to bring a grin to nan faces of nan thousands who statement nan people each and each year. Last year’s arena saw Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe triumph nan men’s title connected debut successful a clip of 2hr 2min 27sec while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won nan women’s title successful a clip of 2:15.50. Both were captivating contests – much of nan aforesaid successful 2026 would not spell amiss.
11) Women’s Champions League final 22 May
Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion hosts nan showpiece arena of women’s nine shot successful Europe and nan dream for Arsenal is that they are location to take sides nan trophy they won successful memorable manner against Barcelona successful Lisbon past year. First, Renée Slegers’ broadside request to navigate a playoff necktie against OH Leuven, triumph successful which will lead to a quarter-final against Chelsea, who proceed to activity their first ever Champions League title. Manchester United are besides successful nan playoffs, pinch triumph complete Atlético Madrid mounting up a quarter-final showdown pinch Bayern Munich. Barcelona and OL Lyonnes stay nan teams to hit and, fixed really nan knockout tie has been mapped out, cannot meet until nan final.
12) Champions Cup final 23 May
The San Mamés Stadium successful Bilbao is nan venue for European rugby’s showpiece juncture and for Bordeaux-Bègles nan ambition is to clasp nan title they secured pinch a 28-20 triumph complete Northampton astatine nan Principality Stadium successful Cardiff past year. Can Saints spell 1 amended successful 2026? Quite possibly, albeit Bath and Saracens whitethorn person thing to opportunity astir that arsenic an English squad seeks to prehend this crown for nan first clip since Exeter did truthful successful 2020. The Challenge Cup Final besides takes spot astatine San Mamés nan erstwhile day. The Chiefs are successful contention for that peculiar prize, alongside Newcastle Red Bulls, Ospreys, Dragons, Connacht and Ulster.
13) Men’s Champions League final 30 May
Could this yet beryllium Arsenal’s year? That is simply a mobility being asked successful regards to their Premier League title hopes and besides applies to their ambitions of winning nan Champions League for a first time. Mikel Arteta’s men lead nan League shape pinch a 100% grounds aft six games and person a connection triumph nether their loop having beaten Bayern Munich 3-1 astatine nan Emirates Stadium successful November. Bayern are among nan different contenders to triumph a title whose last takes spot astatine nan Puskas Arena successful Hungary, alongside nan likes of holders Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool, if they tin afloat get their enactment together.
14) England men v New Zealand men Test series 4 June-25 June
England’s cricketing summertime originates pinch a three-match Test bid against New Zealand, pinch nan matches taking spot astatine Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge respectively. This will beryllium nan Black Caps first Test bid successful England since nan summertime of 2022, erstwhile they mislaid 3-0, the hosts securing a first clean-sweep connected location ungraded since 2011. After New Zealand comes limited-overs series’ against India and Sri Lanka either broadside of a three-match Test bid against Pakistan, pinch those matches taking spot astatine Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston. The Pakistan bid originates connected 19 August, which has led to nan Hundred being moved guardant by a week to debar a scheduling clash.
15) The Derby 6 June
For overmuch of nan 19th century, parliament roseate annually connected Derby time to let honourable members to be nan race, and arsenic precocious arsenic nan 1970s nan crowd was good into six figures. Recent years, though, person seen an alarming drop-off successful spectators and this year’s moving of nan world’s astir celebrated Classic will beryllium nan first to use from a five-year, £6m finance to tempt nan punters back. Big upgrades to nan spectator acquisition are promised, but dissimilar astir different awesome sporting events it will, arsenic always, still beryllium imaginable to move up and watch for free.
Photograph: Ian Headington/racingfotos.com/Shutterstock
16) Men’s World Cup 11 June-19 July
The 23rd World Cup is nan first to beryllium hosted by 3 countries – nan United States, Canada and Mexico – and incorporate 48 teams. It is simply a monster, and is already shrouded successful fearfulness and contention fixed Donald Trump’s hardline stance complete migration and nan exorbitant value of tickets. Once nan shot gets going location will, arsenic ever, beryllium overmuch to enjoy, pinch Scotland’s return to nan world shape for nan first clip successful 28 years an undeniable root of intrigue and excitement, particularly fixed they are successful nan aforesaid group arsenic Brazil. For England location is that aching desire of a federation to witnesser a first World Cup triumph since 1966, and first ever connected overseas soil. No pressure, Thomas.
17) Women’s T20 World Cup 12 June-5 July
The 10th version of this tourney takes spot successful England and Wales and, for nan first time, sees 12 teams return part. They will compete crossed 25 days of competition, culminating pinch a last astatine Lord’s connected 5 July. England will beryllium desperately keen to beryllium location and statesman their run against Sri Lanka astatine Edgbaston connected nan opening evening. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s broadside will spell into nan World Cup having played T20 series’ against New Zealand and India, truthful should beryllium good prepared. The White Ferns are World Cup holders having triumphed successful nan UAE 2 years ago and statesman their run against West Indies astatine nan Hampshire Bowl connected 13 June.
18) Royal Ascot 16 June-20 June
While immoderate of racing’s different showpiece events are struggling, Royal Ascot goes from spot to spot pinch each nan effortless self-assurance of the Ascot Gavotte. This year’s prize money full will beryllium a caller grounds of £10.65m pinch 2 £1m contests and astatine slightest £120,000 successful nan purse for each and each 1 of nan 35 races. With Francis-Henri Graffard, France’s caller champion trainer, starring a invited French renaissance astatine nan highest level, nan racing is judge to beryllium arsenic competitory arsenic ever, and tickets for nan Windsor enclosure – nary dress codification and bring your ain picnic and bubbly – commencement astatine £30.
19) Wimbledon 29 June-12 July
The tennis arena of nan summertime remains a very British matter and nan dream for home fans will beryllium that a home subordinate tin triumph a singles titles for nan first clip since Andy Murray did truthful successful 2016. Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie, Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter are nan standout hopes and will person to beryllium astatine their very champion to flooded nan likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Sinner and Swiatek are nan respective men’s and women’s singles champions. Elsewhere, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool will beryllium seeking to clasp nan men’s doubles title aft becoming nan first all-British duo to do truthful for 89 years successful 2025.
20) Tour de France & Tour de France Femmes 4 July-26 July, 1 August-9 August
The 113th version of cycling’s astir prestigious arena sees nan Grand Départ displacement to Barcelona, marking nan 27th juncture it has taken spot distant from France and 3rd juncture successful Spain. The last shape will again beryllium successful Paris and for Tadej Pogacar nan ambition is to triumph a 3rd Tour title successful succession and 5th overall. The 5th version of nan Tour de France Femmes, meanwhile, will return spot successful Switzerland arsenic good arsenic France pinch nan way passing successful 3 upland ranges: nan Jura, Massif cardinal and Alps. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will beryllium seeking to clasp nan title she won past year, erstwhile she became nan first French rider to triumph nan Tour de France Femmes.
21) England women v India women Test match 10 July-13 July
Lord’s hosts a women’s Test lucifer for a very first time. India are nan visitors for nan four-day match, which coincides pinch nan 50th day of Rachael Heyhoe Flint first starring retired an England women’s squad astatine nan expansive aged venue. A typical occasion, then, and nan dream for nan hosts is that it is simply a winning one, too. The omens are not awesome for Sciver-Brunt’s squad fixed India won nan past Test lucifer betwixt nan 2 teams successful December 2023 by 347 runs. England’s past Test lucifer astatine location besides ended successful conclusion – against Australia astatine Trent Bridge, besides successful 2023. England look India successful 3 T20 matches earlier their Test match.
22) The Open 16-19 July
Royal Birkdale welcomes nan Open for a 10th occasion, successful nan process becoming nan astir regular venue of nan arena successful its 154-year history, different than St Andrews. The dream for astir concerned will beryllium that this year’s title is much enthralling than past year’s, erstwhile Scheffler cruised to a 17-under triumph astatine Royal Portrush. As nan Guardian’s play correspondent, Ewan Murray, put it successful his final-day report: “Never successful doubt. Never remotely successful doubt”. It is difficult to look past nan American clinging connected to nan Claret Jug but location are threats successful his way, including Fleetwood, for whom a first awesome connected his location people would correspond a genuinely glorious achievement.
23) Commonwealth Games 23 July-2 August
The alleged “festival of energy, organization and ambition” returns to Glasgow for a 3rd clip and a first since 2014. In total, 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete for medals crossed 10 sports, 7 less than successful 2014 arsenic portion of an effort to make an progressively antiquated arena financially prudent. Indeed, Glasgow stepped successful arsenic hosts aft nan Australian authorities of Victoria pulled retired of that domiciled successful July 2023 citing costs. Athletics and para-athletics, swimming and para-swimming, way cycling and para-track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para-powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para-bowls, and 3x3 hoops and 3x3 wheelchair hoops are nan sports that made nan cut.
24) Solheim Cup 11 September-13 September
Can Team Europe reclaim nan eventual squad prize successful women’s golf? That will surely beryllium nan burning ambition of Anna Nordqvist arsenic she shifts from subordinate to captain, taking complete nan domiciled from Suzann Pettersen, whose reign ended successful a 12½-15½ conclusion to nan United States successful Virginia 2 years ago. Home advantage whitethorn good thief – this year’s tourney takes spot astatine nan Bernardus Golf people successful nan Netherlands. The US will beryllium nary pushovers, however, and besides person a caller captain, pinch Angela Stanford taking complete from Stacy Lewis. As ever, 28 matches will beryllium played crossed 3 days nether 3 different types of matchplay – foursomes, fourballs and singles.
25) Super League Grand Final 3 October
Super League’s showpiece juncture will travel astatine nan extremity of a notable play fixed it is 1 that again involves 14 teams, pinch York Knights and Toulouse Olympique earning places successful an expanded division. Super League’s 30th day besides falls successful information six, which will beryllium marked by nan playing of 2 instauration fixtures: Castleford facing Bradford connected 26 March and Leeds coming up against Warrington connected 29 March. All roads, arsenic ever, lead to Old Trafford and nan ambition of Hull KR will beryllium to return to nan venue wherever they hammered Wigan 24-6 to clinch past season’s treble. Few would stake against Willie Peters’ men doing conscionable that.
26) Rugby League World Cup 15 October-15 November
Australia and Papua New Guinea big nan men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cups crossed nan abstraction of a month. In nan men’s arena it is very overmuch a lawsuit of extremity Australia. The co-hosts person won nan past 3 World Cups and much of nan aforesaid is expected of nan Kangaroos, while for England, battered and bruised by their 3-0 Ashes whitewash, nan first task is to get retired of a group that besides contains Samoa and Lebanon. The men’s and women’s last will beryllium held astatine nan Suncorp Stadium successful Brisbane connected 15 November, while nan wheelchair last takes spot astatine nan Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre 2 days earlier.
