Now that the magic of Christmas has well and truly faded for another year, you might be looking for the next thing to bring that feeling of excitement. And there’s nothing quite like being a spectator at a sports tournament or event to get your blood pumping. Whether you’re more of a dedicated wrap-up in the cold to cheer on your favourite team, or more of a summer sports fan, where you can sip wine and get a tan while being entertained (erm, hello Wimbledon), there is something for everyone on London’s stacked sporting roster in 2026.
This year will bring a lot of new sporting events to the capital, including Twickenham hosting the first-ever Rugby Nations Championship Finals. As well as all that, the sporting calendar will also welcome back huge institutions from across the pond, as the NFL and NBA return to play in London, with the popularity of American football and basketball rising significantly amongst Brits. London will also become the first city in the world to host the iconic tennis tournament, the Laver Cup, at the o2 later in the year.
Women’s sport is also finally getting the spotlight it deserves, with the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup being hosted at Lord’s and The Oval, as well as the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and Women’s Six Nations rugby taking place this year.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has declared that “London is the undisputed sporting capital of the world and there are so many exciting events for Londoners and visitors to look forward to in 2026.” The mayor also has big plans to help London keep this title, with plans already in motion for the Tour de France Femmes in 2027, World Athletics Championships in 2029, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035.
Here’s a roundup of all the events on the roster this year in London:
January to April 2026 sporting events
- 16 January: WWE Smackdown at Wembley Arena
- 18 January: NBS Basketball at the O2 Arena (Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies)
- 1 February: FIFA Women’s Championship Cup at Emirates Stadium
- 7 and 21 February: Men’s Six National Rugby at Twickenham Stadium
- 21 March: UFC at O2 Arena
- 4 April: Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race
- 11 April: Women’s Six National Rugby at Twickenham Stadium
- 26 April: London Marathon
- April to May: World Table Tennis Championships at Wembley Arena and Copper Box Arena
- 16 May: Men’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
- 30 May: Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
- 31 May: Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
Summer 2026 sporting events
- 4-21 June: England men v New Zealand men Test series at Lord’s and The Oval
- 8-21 June: The Championships at The Queen’s Club
- 12 June- 5 July: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s
- 29 June- 12 July: The Wimbledon Championships
- 18 July: London Athletics Meet at London Stadium
- 9-10 August: London T100 Triathalon at the ExCel
- 15-16 August: Formula E at the ExCel
September to December 2026 sporting events
- 19 September: Union Jack Class (American College Football fixture between Kansas Jayhawks vs. Arizona State Sun Devils) at Wembley
- 25-27 September: Laver Cup at the O2 Arena
- Throughout October: NFL London Games at Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- 27-29 November: Rugby Nations Championship Final at Twickenham Stadium
- December: World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace