--- title: "Your 2026 sporting calendar" description: "Stay ahead of the game with a month-by-month guide to the biggest events in the world of sport for 2026. This comprehensive schedule ensures you won’t miss any of the action." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "A FEAST OF SPORT" author: "Daily Maverick Editorial Team" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverickeditorialteam/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-01-04-your-2026-sporting-calendar/" published: "2026-01-04T13:20:25" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 593 --- # Your 2026 sporting calendar > Stay ahead of the game with a month-by-month guide to the biggest events in the world of sport for 2026. This comprehensive schedule ensures you won’t miss any of the action. By Daily Maverick Editorial Team · Published 4 January 2026, 15:20 SAST ## Key points - 2026 sporting calendar highlights monthly major events across sports, ensuring fans stay engaged. - Key tournaments include the FIFA World Cup, Winter Olympics, and various grand slams. - Cricket and Rugby feature prominently, with multiple finals scheduled throughout the year. - Dates are subject to change; fans are encouraged to keep updated for potential shifts. ## Content ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/rqo8x-iTvRDmiFzrkM45Fz8vWEA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/centre-court-rod-laver_401601_2512354452e8cd7527a26b7f7e4f7dce.jpg) *January: Tennis: Australian Open starts. Photo: Gallo Images* ### January (12) Tennis: Australian Open starts (18) Soccer: Afcon final (25) Cricket: SA20 final at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (27-31) Cricket: Proteas home T20 series against West Indies (29) Netball: Spar Proteas vs England Roses Test series starts (31) Tennis: Australian Open women’s singles final ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/7tQLsTqCz7woaSDt7d7VmQQ3Mg0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/SVG-Six-Nations-1-1_106363_66761592d176f4bd2b4b6351748c9f25.jpg) *February: Rugby: Six Nations Championship – round 1. Photo: SVG Europe* ### February (1) Netball: Spar Proteas vs England Roses Test series ends (1) Tennis: Australian Open men’s singles final (5-7) Rugby: Six Nations Championship – round 1 (6-22) Multisport: Winter Olympic Games (26) EFC: Knox Legacy Series in Cape Town (7) Cricket: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka starts ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/HXV4k1_yGPLmw5f7lQWuRY45jac=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/F1_460673_0ad5b77a5c3d61ef2a5f5cad9460cd61.jpg) *March: Motorsport: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Photo: Gallo Images* ### March (6-8) Motorsport: Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (14) Rugby: Six Nations Championship - final round (6-15) Multisport: Winter Paralympic Games (8) Cricket: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final (19-22) Golf: LIV Golf tournament at Steyn City, Johannesburg (20-22) Athletics: World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland (22) Soccer: EFL Carabao Cup final ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/nppqFqlGLvlQA77VBtPXXdgERLo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/BostonMarathon_841376_7667e263ef196882f682e5c3a0427629.jpg) *Boston Marathon in April. Photo: Gallo Images* ### April (6-12) Golf: Masters at Augusta, Georgia, US (20) Athletics: Boston Marathon (26) Athletics: London Marathon ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/esVuPy5gi50Gu_2iAAuKEmiK0EU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/FACupfinal_913484_8f78b7a1100ccbcd627c74d8723e8758.jpg) *May: Soccer: FA Cup final. Photo: Goal.com* ### May (8) Athletics: Diamond League starts (16) Soccer: FA Cup final (18) Tennis: French Open starts (20) Soccer: Europa League final (23) Rugby: Investec Champions Cup final (23) Soccer: Uefa Women’s Champions League final (30) Soccer: Uefa Men’s Champions League final ![Coco Gauff in action against Aryna Sabalenka at Roland-Garros. (Photo: Frey/TPN/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/kYiiX8bnHEM28OR1fXcuzttHpBM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2219099412.jpg) *Will Coco Gauff defend her 2025 title at Roland-Garros successfully in June 2026? (Photo: Frey/TPN/Getty Images)* ### June (6) Tennis: French Open women’s singles final (7) Tennis: French Open men’s singles final (11) Soccer: Fifa World Cup starts (US, Mexico and Canada) (12) Cricket: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup starts in England & Wales (18-21) Golf: US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York (29) Tennis: Wimbledon starts in London, England ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/fn3-XM-NCtqQg-V3dnf9KRnjlFI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/TourdeFrance_710076_e7c95a9f08c5ea364fa79c158ffad9c6.jpg) *July: Cycling: Tour de France starts. Photo: Flickr* ### July (4) Rugby: Inaugural Nations Championship starts (4) Cycling: Tour de France starts (5) Cricket: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final (11) Tennis: Wimbledon women’s singles final (12) Tennis: Wimbledon men’s singles final (19) Soccer: Fifa World Cup final (16-19) Golf: The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Southport, England (23) Multi-sports: Commonwealth Games start in Glasgow, Scotland ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/isL-MjoT9aEtI_dqsJKjs-iMdFI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/FIHHockeyWorldCup_412203_198a73a248b92117f88dee9633031870.jpg) *Hockey: FIH Hockey World Cup. Photo: FIH* ### August (1) Cycling: Tour de France Femmes starts (15-30) Hockey: FIH Hockey World Cup (22) Rugby: Greatest Rivalry tour against New Zealand starts (30) Tennis: US Open starts in New York City ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/HJZMncPn0DJDnCQGkpa3Va-7b3k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/PresidentsCup_726093_33180831a5164db14f1f60845d0acb78.png) *September: Golf: Presidents Cup. Photo: Gallo Images* ### September (5) Rugby: Black Ferns vs Springbok Women at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (12) Tennis: US Open women’s final (13) Tennis: US Open men’s final (20) Cycling: UCI Road World Championships start (22-27) Golf: Presidents Cup ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/RognMsOnyooV048HxY6Vf_26f2w=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/Gymnastics-WorldChampionships_337553_67671acec99c7cb4fcb2263b0e21b536.png) *October: Gymnastics: World Championships (Artistic). Photo: Getty Images* ### October (11) Athletics: Chicago Marathon (17-25) Gymnastics: World Championships (Artistic) (31) Multisport: Summer Youth Olympics starts ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/LikeXM2tc-TQYhc68YHeOKdDZHo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/NewYorkCityMarathon_717854_b98a433501dacf8c9b7b7b4027666521.jpg) *New York City Marathon in November. Photo: Gallo Images* ### November (1) Athletics: New York City Marathon (7-14) Tennis: WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (15-22) Tennis: ATP Finals in Turin, Italy (27-29) Rugby: Nations Championship finals at Twickenham Stadium, London ![P69 SportsCalendar](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/5HfAdMeuzeWkOIQM9RK68lBiZSM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/Abu-Dhabi-GP_782773_97920b423d67295408a51462a3d0926e.jpg) *December: Motorsport: Formula 1 final Grand Prix of the year, Abu Dhabi. Photo: Getty Images* ### December (4-6) Motorsport: Formula 1 final Grand Prix of the year, Abu Dhabi Please note that the event dates were correct at the time of publication and are subject to change. **DM** *This story first appeared in our weekly DM168 newspaper, available countrywide for R35.* ![Image](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/VQlQXGsGS5uKmzvU0gZlH5etw7A=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/DM-19122025-001_407439_c8ee56123400b25d4c3a51565fceafd7.jpg)