Sports travel gives a method to expertise a spot at its most fast and alive. It’s additionally one of many fastest-growing segments of world tourism—a brand new Expedia report estimates sports-related journey now accounts for roughly 10% of worldwide tourism spending, with the market projected to exceed $1.7 trillion globally throughout the subsequent decade. Major occasions more and more inspire journeys not only for attendance, however for the ambiance they create—setting the rhythm of total cities as they arrive by way of.
In 2026, that pull stretches throughout the globe, from the purple clay courts of Paris and the manicured lawns of London to metropolis streets reworked by marathons, alpine roads lined with cyclists, and waves that outline the world’s most iconic surf breaks. These sports activities occasions quickly reshape their environment as hotels swell, public areas pulse with power, and local traditions transfer to the forefront. Some competitions carry centuries of historical past; others replicate the evolving scale and spectacle of international sport.
You don’t have to love sports to love touring for them. Trust me—I’ve by no means been athletic, nor have I cared a lot for stats or scores, however one thing shifts while you’re in a metropolis—new or recognized—throughout an enormous recreation. The streets come alive, the excitement is palpable, and for a second, everybody’s on the identical workforce. (Or united in opposition to a standard adversary—which is at all times enjoyable, too.) For vacationers, sports activities present each focus and context—a possibility to witness new or revisited cities and landscapes by way of the lens of efficiency, ardour, and celebration. Whether a single championship anchors a journey or frames a bigger itinerary, learn on for a month-by-month calendar, highlighting the place sport, place, and timing will intersect most memorably in 2026.
**Editor’s be aware: We can be updating this listing by way of the yr as host cities and extra info releases. **
A month-by-month reference:
January 2026
Australian Open
When: January 18–31
Where: Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Open kicks off this yr’s tennis calendar with sun-splashed courts, heart-racing rallies, and a worldwide area of elite opponents vying for the season’s first Grand Slam. Melbourne’s unmistakable power—from its famed café tradition to its vibrant laneways and cutting-edge galleries—is woven into the occasion, making town as a lot a protagonist as the game itself. For vacationers, it is a likelihood to mix world-class competitors with considered one of Australia’s most livable cities.
Tickets for matches vary from day periods to premium packages; reserving early is important. Official tickets and journey packages can be found by way of Tennis Australia’s licensed supplier on the Australian Open’s official ticketing site.
Where to keep for the Australian Open:
When: January 19
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
The coronation recreation of the college football season, this championship attracts followers from throughout the United States for one electrifying evening of sport and spectacle. It’s a cultural second as a lot as a contest—from pre-game tailgates to watch events throughout Miami’s nightlife districts. Whether you bleed your faculty’s colours or simply love nice American pageantry, this recreation is a vacation spot occasion.
Where to keep for the CFP National Championship:
2026 Winter X Games
When: January 21–24
Where: Aspen, Colorado, US