The year 2026 has a lot in store for not only Indian sport but also the global sporting scene. From global showpieces to tours that could shape India’s next Olympic and World Cup cycles, 2026 promises to be a pivotal year. With cricket, football and multi-sport events colliding across continents, fans will have plenty to mark on their calendars.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (February 7 – March 8)
It all kicks off with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at home, co-hosted with Sri Lanka. The tournament runs from early February to early March and promises packed stadiums and high-octane fixtures. Defending champions, India have an opportunity to win the title one more time in front of the home crowd. With Suryakumar Yadav leading the side, expectations will be sky-high across the subcontinent. The Indian squad will aim to do what no one has ever done before—retain the T20 World Cup title.
FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 (June 11 – July 19)
Following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the FIFA Men’s World Cup will then dominate the global sporting scene in 2026. For the first time the tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will also feature an expanded 48-team format, so the FIFA World Cup is all set to be bigger and longer than ever.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (June 12 – July 5)
The spotlight will simultaneously be on the Indian Women’s Team as they step into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Under Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team won the 2026 Women’s World Cup in November 2024 and will be looking to add another feather to their hat. England and Wales are all set to host the tournament, beginning only a day after football’s showpiece kicks off. India will arrive as one of the contenders, still searching for their first T20 World Cup crown, while established powerhouses will look to assert their dominance once again.
India Men’s White-Ball Tour of England (July 1 – July 19)
In the very next month, fans will see the Indian men’s team head to England for a long and extensive white ball tour that comprises five T20Is and three ODIs. The tour will carry emotional weight as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return donning the Indian colours once again. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, the series could offer serious clues about India’s ODI team direction.
Commonwealth Games 2026 (July 23 – August 2)
The Commonwealth Games definitely had a turbulent build up but will return in a more compact format with Glasgow stepping in to host following the Australian state Victoria withdrawing from the deal. Scheduled from July 23 to August 2, the event is all set to feature 10 sports and six integrated para sports. While major sports like cricket and hockey will not be present, disciplines such as athletics, swimming, boxing, netball, judo and weightlifting will take centre stage.
Asian Games 2026 (September 19 – October 4)
The Asian Games will round off the major sporting year. Aichi and Nagoya in Japan are all set to host the continental extravaganza. Around 15,000 athletes from around 45 nations are set to compete in the tournament, making it one of the largest multi-sport events. India will head into the Games buoyed by memories of a historic 2023 campaign, where they bagged a whopping 107 medals, including 28 Gold, 38 Silver and 41 Bronze.
