The city of London is preparing for an extraordinary year of sport in 2026, featuring the return of NBA regular-season basketball and crucial matches for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The semi-finals are scheduled at The Oval, with the final taking place at Lord’s on 5 July.
London has previously established itself as a global hub for women’s sport, following a highly successful 2025 calendar. Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to maintain this momentum, securing major international competitions and continuing to attract world-class events to the capital.
The NBA London Game 2026 will see the Orlando Magic face the Memphis Grizzlies at the O2 Arena on 18 January. This marks the return of regular-season NBA basketball to London after an absence since 2019. The event, presented by Tissot, along with the 2027 NBA game in Manchester, is expected to deliver an economic boost of more than £100 million for the UK.
In cricket, London will host several key ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches. Lord’s will stage the final, with the semi-finals held at The Oval. Both venues will also host important group-stage fixtures in the 12-team tournament across England and Wales.
Tennis enthusiasts can look forward to the HSBC Championships in June at The Queen’s Club, marking the return of top-tier women’s and men’s competition in the city. Following this, the Laver Cup will return to London from 25-27 September at the O2 Arena. Team Europe, featuring World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, and Team World, including Taylor Fritz, are confirmed to compete. The event previously saw Roger Federer conclude his career in front of a sold-out London crowd in 2022.
Table tennis will also take centre stage with the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships held at the Copper Box Arena and Arena Wembley. The event marks the centenary of the first World Championships, with 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams competing.
American football will be coming to London in September, with Wembley Stadium hosting the inaugural Union Jack Classic featuring the Kansas Jayhawks versus the Arizona State Sun Devils. The NFL London Games will follow later in the year.
Rugby will see the first Nations Championship Finals Weekend at Twickenham in November. The event features top teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres across three days, culminating in championship rankings.
Regular annual sporting events will continue across the capital, including the Men’s and Women’s Six Nations, TCS London Marathon, Challenge Cup Finals, Women’s FA Cup Final, Wimbledon Championships, London Athletics Meet, London T100 Triathlon, Formula E, and various Premier League and Women’s Super League fixtures.
London is also pursuing future events, including the 2027 Tour de France Femmes, the 2029 World Athletics Championships, and the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. These bids reflect the city’s ongoing commitment to hosting top-level competitions and prioritising women’s sport.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “London is the undisputed sporting capital of the world and there are so many exciting events for Londoners and visitors to look forward to in 2026. From the return of the NBA and the Laver Cup to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, our capital will be home to the biggest and best sporting competitions over the next 12 months. I am determined to continue bringing more of the world’s biggest sporting events to London and I am actively working with partners to help us secure the 2027 Tour de France Femmes, the 2029 World Athletics Championships and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035 for the capital.”
Beth Barrett-Wild, Tournament Director of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, commented: “With just under six months to go until the opening game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the stage is set for a transformative tournament that will reset the narrative about women’s cricket, propelling it firmly into the mainstream.”
Jack Buckner, CEO of British Athletics, added: “London is a leading destination for world class athletics and we look forward to staging the Novuna London Athletics Meet in July in what is the biggest one-day athletics event of the year. Returning to the London Stadium, this incredible event has sold out three years running and will once again showcase global superstars and record-breaking performances.”
Tony Godsick, Laver Cup Chairman and TEAM8 CEO, stated: “We are thrilled to be bringing the Laver Cup back to London, one of the world’s great sporting cities. The O2 holds a special place in the history of our event and the sport, having hosted some of the Laver Cup’s most memorable moments and one of the most emotional and successful editions to date.”
Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, said: “London is one of the sporting capitals of the world and will be the perfect destination for the very first Nations Championship Finals Weekend. Three days of double headers at the iconic Allianz Stadium next November will put the very best of international rugby on the global stage.”
Chris Pollard, LTA Managing Director, Commercial and Operations, remarked: “Following the huge success of the HSBC Championships this year, which saw the return of a women’s event to the Queen’s Club for the first time in 50 years, we are looking forward to another fantastic year of tennis in London in 2026.”
Sally Lockyer, CEO of Table Tennis England, said: “The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2026 is set to be a transformative moment for table tennis in the UK. London hosted the first World Championships 100 years ago, so it is fitting that the sport is returning to the capital to celebrate the centenary.”
Simon Morton, Deputy CEO at UK Sport, added: “Sport excites, inspires and changes lives, and we are proud to be working with London on several events that will be taking place across the city in 2026 and beyond.”
Graham Gilmore, CEO of London Stadium, concluded: “We are proud to play a central role in London’s incredible 2026 sporting calendar and to support bids for future world-class events, including the 2029 World Athletics Championships. Our commitment is to deliver an outstanding experience for fans and athletes alike, while driving economic and social impact for the capital.”
