Sports Calendar 2026: Discover the Main Competitions of the Year!

Planning ahead is the first step to enjoying Sports Betting responsibly. And the first step is to know the sports calendar for 2026, since we will have tournaments for every taste. Whether you like the World Cup or not, the year promises plenty of excitement. Learn more below.

Football

UEFA Champions League

This is the second Champions League season with the League Phase, which will have two rounds in January: the seventh, with matches on January 20 and 21, and the eighth, with all games on the 28th and the definition of the eight teams advancing directly to the Round of 16.

Next, the playoffs will put clubs ranked ninth through sixteenth in a fight for the remaining knockout spots, with the first legs on February 17 and 18 and the second legs on February 24 and 25.

March will feature the Round of 16 on the 10th and 11th, with decisions on the 17th and 18th. The Quarter-finals will have first legs on April 7 and 8, with second legs on April 14 and 15. Then, the Semifinals begin on April 28 and 29, determining the finalists on May 5 and 6.

The Puskás Aréna in Budapest will host the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Final, where the 71st title will be awarded. And as the European season begins halfway through the year, the 2026/27 edition will have qualifiers from July 7 to August 11, followed by the Playoffs from August 18 to 25 and the start of the League Phase on September 8.

Europa League

The 2025/26 Europa League also continues with its League Phase, with the last two rounds on January 22 and 29. The knockout playoffs for the Round of 16 will have first and second legs on February 19 and 26, while the Round of 16 will follow the familiar format, starting on March 12 and concluding on March 19.

To wrap up, April will bring the Quarter-finals on April 9 and 16, while the Semifinals will be played on April 30 and finalized on May 7. Istanbul will host the Europa League Final on May 20, at Besiktas Stadium.

With the start of the 2026/27 season, the road to the Waldstadion in Frankfurt will begin on the same dates as the Champions League qualifiers.

Conference League

Unlike its sister competitions, the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League has already completed the League Phase. Eight clubs will compete in the knockout playoff for the Round of 16 on February 19 and 26, with the Round of 16 being played on March 12 and 19.

Then, April 9 and 16 will host the Quarter-finals, with the Semifinals played between April 30 and May 7. The tournament’s fifth edition will be decided on May 27, when Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena will host the final.

Right after the World Cup, Europe’s “alternative” tournament returns in July. The 2026/27 final will be played at Besiktas Stadium in Turkey.

Copa Libertadores

Eternal Glory returns beginning on February 3 with the preliminary stages, which run until March 13. Next, the Group Stage runs from April 7 to May 28.

After the World Cup, the Libertadores resumes on August 11 for the Round of 16, with qualification decided on the 20th. The Quarter-finals will be played between September 8 and 17, while the Semifinals take place between October 13 and 21.

Played in a single match, the 2026 Libertadores Final will be held on November 28 at a neutral venue to be announced and will also determine the South American representative for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Copa Sudamericana

The Copa Sudamericana will begin slightly later than its older sister: the First Phase runs from March 2 to 5 with regional matches. Only Brazil and Argentina qualified all their teams directly for the Group Stage, which takes place between April 8 and May 27.

The knockout path has one additional round: a playoff between Sudamericana group runners-up and Libertadores third-place teams, played between July 22 and 29. Thereafter, the dates mirror the Libertadores: Round of 16 from August 12 to 19, Quarter-finals from September 9 to 16, and Semifinals from October 14 to 21.

The 2026 Copa Sudamericana Final will be held slightly earlier, on November 21. The host venue is still unconfirmed, and the winner also earns a place in the 2027 Libertadores.

Recopa Sudamericana

Flamengo and Lanús will play the Recopa Sudamericana as winners of the Libertadores and Sudamericana respectively. The two-legged final begins in Argentina on February 18 and concludes in Rio de Janeiro on February 25.

World Cup Playoffs

It is almost time for the biggest tournament on the planet: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Six places remain to be filled, with single-match playoffs on March 26 and 31.

Four spots will be decided in the UEFA Playoffs, featuring Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. The other two spots will come from the Intercontinental Playoffs, with DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Iraq, Suriname, and Bolivia.

World Cup

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the first World Cup featuring 48 national teams. Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will become the first stadium to host three World Cup openers, this time on June 11.

The Group Stage runs until June 27, with the knockout stage beginning the next day. The Round of 32 will be played from June 28 to July 3, followed by the Round of 16 from July 4 to 7.

The Quarter-finals take place from July 9 to 11, and the Semifinals on July 13 and 14. MetLife Stadium in New York will host the Final on July 19.

Africa Cup of Nations

Held in January, the Africa Cup of Nations is already underway in Morocco. The Semifinals take place on the 14th, featuring Senegal v Egypt and Nigeria v Morocco. The third-place match is scheduled for the 17th, with the Final on the 18th at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Brazilian State Championships

The CBF has restructured the Brazilian football calendar and reduced the state championships. Each competition has its own rules, beginning January 11 and ending on March 8, alternating with the national league calendar.

Copa do Nordeste

Another tournament impacted by the new CBF calendar is the Copa do Nordeste, now with 20 clubs. It will no longer feature teams qualified for continental competitions and will run from March 25, with the final scheduled for June 7.

Copa Verde

The Copa Verde also changes format and dates, running in parallel with the Copa do Nordeste and now featuring winners of two regional tournaments: the Copa Norte and the Copa Centro-Oeste, with Tocantins included in the latter. Each has 12 teams, featuring knockouts, Semifinals, and Finals, with the champions facing each other for the Copa Verde title.

Copa Sul-Sudeste

Finishing the list of regional tournaments, the Copa Sul-Sudeste will feature two clubs from each state in Brazil’s South and Southeast regions: the two highest-ranked teams not participating in continental competitions. There will be two groups and knockout rounds, featuring clubs like Internacional and Chapecoense.

Copa do Brasil

Brazil’s premier knockout tournament will feature 126 clubs, up from 92. It will now have nine phases, beginning on February 18 and concluding with the Final on December 2.

Supercopa Rei

Flamengo and Corinthians will face off in a showcase match between Brazil’s two largest fanbases in the Supercopa Rei. The champions of the Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil play on February 1 at Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília.

Brazilian Série A

The most significant change in the Brazilian football calendar is the Série A starting early, on January 28. The format remains unchanged, with 38 rounds played through December 2.

Brazilian Série B

The competition may undergo a name change as the CBF plans to rebrand the national divisions. Still featuring 20 teams, Série B begins later than Série A, on March 21, and ends on November 28.

Brazilian Série C

This will be the final year of Série C in its current format, as the competition expands by four teams over the next two seasons, resulting in just two relegations this year. The competition starts April 5 with Groups, Quadrangular, and a Final, ending on October 25.

Brazilian Série D

Série D also expands, from 64 to 96 clubs. Played from April 5 to September 13, the tournament has a Group Stage with groups of six teams, with the top four advancing to the knockouts.

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Despite the arrival of the FIFA Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup remains active, split into smaller regional events. The Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup brings clubs from Asia, Oceania, and Africa together. The Americas Derby is contested by the winners of the Libertadores and Concacaf Champions Cup. Then the Challenger Cup determines who faces the Champions League winner in December’s Intercontinental Final.

Argentine League

Brazil’s neighbor maintains a unique structure, dividing its championship into Apertura and Clausura formats with two groups of 15 clubs each. The top eight from each advance to the knockout stage, determining the season’s champions. There will be 510 matches starting January 22.

Premier League, League Cup, and FA Cup

The 2025/26 Premier League season continues at full throttle, led by Arsenal, with the final day scheduled for May 24. The next season begins on August 22 due to the World Cup year.

The League Cup will have Semifinals and second-leg matches on February 3 and 4. Newcastle, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal remain in contention for the March 22 Final at Wembley. The world’s oldest football competition, the FA Cup, also concludes at Wembley, with the Final on May 16.

La Liga and Copa del Rey

Spain’s La Liga runs through May 24. Meanwhile, the Copa del Rey Final will be staged on April 25 at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville.

Serie A and Coppa Italia

Italy’s top flight also ends on May 24, with a tightly contested title race. The Coppa Italia will be decided earlier, in a single match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, on May 13.

Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal

The Bundesliga season ends earlier than most European leagues, with the final round set for May 16. Immediately afterward comes the traditional two-leg playoff between the Bundesliga’s 16th-place club and the second division’s third-place side to decide promotion and relegation. The DFB-Pokal Final will take place on May 23 at Berlin's Olympiastadion.

Ligue 1

May 16 is also the day France learns the final Ligue 1 table. Paris Saint-Germain may lose the French crown — or not. One title the capital club will not win is the Coupe de France, whose Final is scheduled for May 23.

Basketball

NBA

The NBA regular season began on October 21 and runs until April 12. The Play-In Tournament will take place from April 14 to 17 to decide the remaining playoff entrants, followed by the NBA Playoffs, culminating with the NBA Finals starting on June 4 (and running through June 21 if a Game 7 is needed).

NBA All-Star Game

Inglewood, California, will host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on February 15. The home of the Los Angeles Clippers will feature a new format: United States stars facing a Rest of the World selection, with 24 players divided into three teams.

NBB

If you want to divert attention to Brazilian basketball, the 2025/26 NBB season is already underway since October 20 with a record 20 teams. After 38 rounds, the regular season moves into the knockout phase, following the competition’s usual format.

Tennis

Australian Open

The year’s first Grand Slam brings many of the world’s best tennis players, including Carlos Alcaraz and reigning champion Jannik Sinner. The Australian Open spans two weeks in Melbourne Park, from January 18 to February 1.

Madrid Open

Months later, the Madrid Open is one of the premier events of the tennis year, a WTA Masters 1000. It runs from April 19 to May 4 in the Spanish capital.

Roland Garros

Some call it the French Open, but purists know it as Roland Garros. Qualifiers take place from May 18 to 23, before the main draw begins on May 24 and concludes on June 7.

Wimbledon

Another legendary Grand Slam is Wimbledon, played in London. It begins on June 29 and ends on July 12 with the biggest names in tennis and the traditional strawberries and cream.

US Open

The United States Open will be held in New York at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Matches take place from August 23 to September 13.

American Football

Super Bowl LX

The 60th Super Bowl brings together the champions of the NFC and AFC on February 8. Fourteen teams remain in contention, but one thing is certain: the showdown at Levi’s Stadium promises spectacle even for casual viewers.

NFL in Rio de Janeiro

After hosting NFL games in Brazil for the past two years, Neo Química Arena hands hosting duties to Rio de Janeiro. The Maracanã will receive at least three regular-season games in the next five years, with the 2026 date still pending.

Ice Hockey

NHL

The NHL kicked off on October 7 and is already heating up, with a break during the Winter Olympics — since Ice Hockey is part of the competition’s schedule. The league resumes on February 25, and the regular season will wrap up on April 16.

Meanwhile, the Stadium Series will take place on February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The outdoor matchup will see the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Boston Bruins. To round things out, the Playoffs start in April to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup (a trophy that will keep fans’ hearts warmer than a glass keeps beverages cold).

Golf

The Players Championship

The first major tournament of the PGA Tour season, The Players Championship will take place from March 12 to 15. Awarding 750 points to the winner, the event will be held at TPC Sawgrass, and defending champion Rory McIlroy is confirmed.

Masters Tournament

Golf fans will not need to wait long for the next big competition, as the Masters Tournament is set for April 9 to 12. The Augusta National Golf Club will once again host the event, which was also won by Rory McIlroy last year.

PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler is the biggest name in golf right now and will defend his PGA Championship title, which this year will be played at Aronimink GC in Newtown Square. Offering 750 ranking points, the tournament runs from May 14 to 17.

US Open

Southampton, New York, will host the next US Open from June 18 to 21 (a great option for fans not completely sold on soccer during the World Cup). The Shinnecock Hills GC course will stage the event, with J.J. Spaun defending his title.

The Open Championship

Golfers will head to Southport, England, for The Open, scheduled for July 13 to 19. Offering the same 750 points as the other top-tier majors, the tournament will show whether Scottie Scheffler remains dominant (and continues winning the championship).

Tour Championship

Get ready for the golf tournament worth the most points on this list: the Tour Championship at East Lake GC in Atlanta. Tommy Fleetwood will defend the title from August 27 to 30.

Motorsport

Formula 1 2026

Starting only on March 8 with the Australian GP, the 2026 Formula 1 season will feature 24 races and conclude in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Audi and Cadillac will be new entrants, along with Ford returning to the sport.

Cricket

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka and India will co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, featuring 20 teams competing between February 7 and March 8. Beyond the hosts, powerhouses such as England, Australia, and New Zealand will face underdogs like Canada, Italy, and Oman.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

A few months later, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will take place in England and Wales. Some qualifying spots are still undecided, but the tournament will run from June 12 to July 5, with the hosts leading one group (and Australia the other).

Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

Cold weather and sport are a perfect match. Italy will host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with 3,500 athletes from 93 nations heading to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in pursuit of history. A total of 195 events will be contested between February 6 and 22 across sports like Ice Hockey, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, and Figure Skating — with the notable addition of Skimo.

As tradition goes, the same host cities will stage the Winter Paralympic Games from March 6 to 15. Highlights include Wheelchair Curling, Para Ice Hockey, and Alpine Skiing.

Bet Responsibly at Blaze!

Now you know the main sporting events of 2026 and can already start preparing for the excitement. And if you choose to bet, be sure to do so on a licensed and trustworthy platform — like Blaze, which operates under Authorization SPA/MF No. 471, dated March 10, 2025.

Remember to explore our Sports Betting Encyclopedia for tips and rules to play with responsibility and awareness. Keep in mind that betting is not an investment or source of income, meaning you should never wager money you cannot afford to lose.

Ready to enjoy your favorite sport? Take a look at Blaze’s Sports Betting page and good luck!