The biggest sporting events in the world are the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Tour de France and Wimbledon, plus marathons, motor races and championships that you can watch in person. This list gives you 20 of them, with where they happen and when you can see them next. Each one links to its official website, so you can check current dates and tickets before you plan a trip.
Some events happen once every four years. Others come back every year in the same city. We start with the global tournaments and then go through team sports, motor racing, combat sports, and finally running, swimming and extreme sports.
1. Olympic Games
The Summer and Winter Olympic Games each come around every four years, in a different host city. Summer events range from athletics to swimming to gymnastics, and the Winter Games cover snow and ice sports. The next Summer Games are in Los Angeles, from 14 to 30 July 2028, according to the LA28 organisers.
2. FIFA World Cup
The men's soccer World Cup has been played since 1930. The 2026 edition was hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The next one, in 2030, will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. Check FIFA's World Cup page for the match calendar when it is published.
3. UEFA European Championship (Euro)
Europe's national soccer teams meet every four years. Euro 2028 is hosted jointly by England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Check UEFA for the dates and venues. See the Wembley Stadium announcement for the host cities.
4. Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the final game of the National Football League (NFL) season in the United States. Super Bowl LXI is on 14 February 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, as listed by the NFL. The halftime show is part of the occasion, and the NFL announces its performer each year.
5. Tour de France
This is a men's cycling race that runs for about three weeks every July. The 2027 Tour runs from 2 to 25 July, with the Grand Départ (the start) in Great Britain, according to the official Tour site. You can watch from the roadside along the route, and the Tour usually ends with a finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
6. Formula 1
Formula 1 visits circuits on several continents each season. One of the best known stops is the Monaco Grand Prix, which ran from 5 to 7 June in 2026. Other races are in countries such as Australia, Bahrain, Spain, Canada, Italy and Mexico. The full race calendar is on formula1.com, so you can pick the race that fits your trip.
7. 24 Hours of Le Mans
This endurance race for sports cars is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, in June. Teams share the driving over a full day and night, so the pit stops and the night racing are big parts of the show. The 95th edition is listed from 9 to 13 June 2027 on the official Le Mans site.
8. NBA Finals
The NBA Finals decide the champion of the National Basketball Association in North America. They are played in June, in the arenas of the two finalist teams, so the host cities change every year. Find the schedule and tickets on nba.com.
9. Wimbledon
Wimbledon is a Grand Slam tennis tournament played on grass at the All England Club in London. The 2027 Championships run from 28 June to 11 July, as listed on wimbledon.com. Players keep to a dress code that is almost entirely white, which is a tradition that the tournament describes as dating back to the Victorian era.
10. World Series
The World Series is the final of Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada, played in autumn between the champions of the American and National Leagues. The home ballparks change with the finalists. Each year's bracket and schedule is on mlb.com.
11. Caribbean Series
This baseball tournament brings together the winter league champions of countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. The host country rotates. The Caribbean Baseball Confederation lists dates and hosts on its website.
12. Rugby World Cup
The men's Rugby World Cup is held every four years. The 2027 edition is in Australia, from 1 October to 13 November, with the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, according to the official Rugby World Cup site. Matches are spread across seven host cities.
13. UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a mixed martial arts promotion. Fighters use striking and grappling inside an octagonal cage. UFC events take place in many countries across the year, so there is a good chance one will be near your next trip. Look up the event list on the UFC website before you book.
14. Champions Cup rugby
The Investec Champions Cup is Europe's top club rugby competition. The season runs from October to May. The 2027 final is on Saturday 22 May at OL Stadium in Lyon, France, as confirmed by EPCR. Lyon also hosts the Challenge Cup final the day before.
15. World Aquatics Championships
The world championships for swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving are held together. The next edition is in Budapest, Hungary, from 26 June to 18 July 2027, World Aquatics says. Swimming runs in the last week.
16. World Athletics Championships
This is the main track and field event outside the Olympics. The 21st edition is in Beijing, China, from 10 to 19 September 2027, on the World Athletics site. Sprint, jump, throw and distance finals are all spread over the ten days.
17. IRONMAN World Championship
An IRONMAN triathlon is a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike ride and a 42.2 km marathon, all in one day. The World Championship is best known for its race in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. It is an event to watch in awe, and the course goes along the coast, so you can see athletes in several places. Check the IRONMAN website for the current date and the spectator information.
18. New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is held on the first Sunday in November. The route runs through all five boroughs, from Staten Island over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and finishes in Central Park. The 2026 race had more than 60,000 finishers, the first marathon ever to pass that mark according to the organisers.
19. Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April. Most runners have to qualify, but anyone can watch along the course. See the Boston Athletic Association website for the race and spectator information.
20. X Games
The X Games bring together action sports such as snowboarding, skiing and skateboarding. The X Games site lists winter events in Aspen, Calgary and Ruka for 2027. Dates and tickets are on xgames.com. Planning your year around big events? Check our big events calendar for what happened, what is left and what is next.
How to stay connected at a sporting event abroad
When you travel for a big event, you need your phone for tickets, maps, rideshare and messages. A travel eSIM gives you mobile data from the moment you land, without a physical SIM card or high roaming charges. You can also read how to install an eSIM before you fly. A lot of these events are in Europe, so this is a good place to start:
Data-only eSIMs for Europe, 5, 10 and 20 GB · See all Europe eSIMs · All destinations
Going to an event in the United States? Have a look at the USA eSIM plans or read our guide to the best eSIM for the USA. For the Rugby World Cup in Australia, see the best eSIM for Australia. If you are planning a longer European trip, our European cities bucket list has more ideas.
FAQ
What are the biggest sporting events in the world?
There is no official ranking. The Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are the two global tournaments that move to a new host every four years. Annual events such as the Super Bowl, the Tour de France, Wimbledon, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the big city marathons draw crowds to the same places each year.
Which sporting events can I see every year?
Wimbledon, the Tour de France, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the World Series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula 1 races, the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon are all held every year. The Olympics, the World Cup, Euro and the Rugby World Cup are held every four years.
Which events are coming up next?
From this list: Super Bowl LXI (14 February 2027), the Champions Cup final in Lyon (22 May 2027), the 24 Hours of Le Mans (9 to 13 June 2027), the Aquatics Championships in Budapest (26 June to 18 July 2027), Wimbledon (28 June to 11 July 2027), the Tour de France (2 to 25 July 2027), the World Athletics Championships in Beijing (10 to 19 September 2027), the Rugby World Cup in Australia (1 October to 13 November 2027), the LA28 Olympics (14 to 30 July 2028).
Where should I buy tickets?
Use the official event website or the official ticket partner it links to. Every event in this guide has its own site, and some tickets are sold through a ballot or hospitality packages.
Do I need an eSIM to attend a sporting event abroad?
You do not need one, but it helps. You get mobile data on arrival for digital tickets, maps and messaging. Networks can be busy in a large crowd, so also save your tickets offline before you leave the hotel. Make sure your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked first.
