The world might feel a little upside down at the moment, but if there’s one thing that still brings people together across borders, time zones and cultures, it’s sport.

If you’re feeling a bit flat after a loooooong January, consider this your pick-me-up. From global showpieces to nail-biting finals, here are the biggest sporting events to diarise this year.

The dates below are confirmed for now, but with ongoing geopolitical tensions and unpredictable weather, flexibility is the name of the game.

February

· 1 February – Australian Open men’s singles final
· 6–22 February – Winter Olympic Games
· 7 February – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins (India & Sri Lanka)

March

· 6–8 March – Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
· 6–15 March – Winter Paralympic Games
· 8 March – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final
· 19–22 March – LIV Golf at Steyn City, Johannesburg
· 20–22 March – World Athletics Indoor Championships (Poland)

April

· 6–12 April – The Masters at Augusta, USA
· 20 April – Boston Marathon
· 26 April – London Marathon

May

· 16 May – FA Cup final
· 18 May – French Open begins
· 20 May – Europa League final
· 23 May – Investec Champions Cup final | UEFA Women’s Champions League final
· 30 May – UEFA Men’s Champions League final

June

· 6 June – French Open women’s final
· 7 June – French Open men’s final
· 11 June – FIFA World Cup kicks off (USA, Mexico & Canada)
· 12 June – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup begins (England & Wales)
· 18–21 June – US Open Golf (New York)
· 29 June – Wimbledon begins

July

· 4 July – Inaugural Nations Championship starts | Tour de France begins
· 5 July – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final
· 11 July – Wimbledon women’s final
· 12 July – Wimbledon men’s final
· 16–19 July – The Open Championship (Royal Birkdale)
· 19 July – FIFA World Cup final
· 23 July – Commonwealth Games begin (Glasgow)

August

· 1 August – Tour de France Femmes begins
· 22 August – Greatest Rivalry rugby tour vs New Zealand starts
· 30 August – US Open tennis begins

September

· 5 September – Black Ferns vs Springbok Women (FNB Stadium)
· 12 September – US Open women’s final
· 13 September – US Open men’s final
· 22–27 September – Presidents Cup (golf)

October to December

· 17–25 October – Gymnastics World Championships
· 31 October – Summer Youth Olympics begin
· 1 November – New York City Marathon
· 27–29 November – Nations Championship rugby finals (Twickenham)
· 4–6 December – Formula 1 season finale, Abu Dhabi

From tennis showdowns and marathon milestones to World Cups and championship finals, this year’s sporting calendar offers plenty to look forward to.

In times when the world feels divided, these shared moments of competition, pride and celebration remind us why sport still matters — and why it continues to bring people together.

Note: Event dates were correct at the time of publication and remain subject to change.
SOURCES: dailymaverick.co.za | Olympics.com

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