India's 2026 Sports Calendar: Every event you need to know for the next 12 months

The year 2026 is set to be a thrilling one for Indian sports fans, with a packed calendar of events across cricket, football, athletics, hockey, chess, and more. From domestic championships to continental tournaments and global multi-sport events, Indian athletes are expected to make their mark on several major stages.

The action begins early in the year with the Women’s Premier League 2026, scheduled from January 9 to February 5. Soon after, the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup will take place from January 15 to February 6, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Cricket will continue to dominate as India and Sri Lanka will co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 from February 7 to March 8. Women’s cricket will take the spotlight later in the year with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, running from June 12 to July 5 in England and Wales.

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Chess enthusiasts will have a busy year, with the FIDE Candidates Tournaments 2026 scheduled from March 28 to April 16 in Paphos, Cyprus. The winners of these tournaments will earn the right to challenge the reigning world champions. The World Chess Championship 2026 and the 46th Chess Olympiad in Tashkent (dates TBA) will also be important highlights for Indian players like Gukesh.

In badminton, India will compete in the BWF World Team Championships (Thomas & Uber Cup) from April 24 to May 3 in Denmark. Hockey will also be in focus as India’s men will aim for glory at the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30.

Athletics will see a few Diamond League meetings starting in May and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship from September 11 to 13. Olympic and world javelin champion Neeraj Chopra will be a key attraction, along with other global stars. India will also compete in the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.

Other global events include the Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia, the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad (April 1-10), and the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London (April 28-May 10). In football, however, uncertainty still remains due to the ongoing crisis at the AIFF, which has led to the postponement of the domestic league ISL and has put India’s AFC spots at risk.

Also Read: Major Sports Events in 2026: From ICC T20 World Cup to FIFA World Cup, 8 sporting events you can't afford to miss

India’s 2026 sports calendar

Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL) – Jan 9 to Feb 5

ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup – Jan 15 to Feb 6 | Zimbabwe & Namibia

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Feb 7 to Mar 8 | India & Sri Lanka

FIDE Candidates Tournaments 2026 – Mar 28 to Apr 16 | Paphos, Cyprus

Asian Boxing Championships – Apr 1 to Apr 11 | Mongolia

Asian Weightlifting Championships – Apr 1 to Apr 10 | Ahmedabad, India

ITTF World Team Championships Finals – Apr 28 to May 10 | London, UK

BWF World Team Championships (Thomas & Uber Cup) – Apr 24 to May 3 | Horsens, Denmark

Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL) – Mar 26 to May 31 (tentative)

Diamond League Meetings – May onwards | Various venues

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Jun 12 to Jul 5 | England & Wales

Commonwealth Games 2026 – Jul 23 to Aug 2 | Glasgow, Scotland

Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 – Aug 14 to Aug 30 | Belgium & Netherlands

World Athletics Continental Tour (Silver Level) – Aug 22 onwards | Bhubaneswar, India

World Athletics Ultimate Championship – Sep 11 to Sep 13 | Budapest, Hungary

Asian Games 2026 – Sep 19 to Oct 4 | Aichi & Nagoya, Japan

Diamond League Finals – Sep 4-5 | Brussels, Belgium

46th Chess Olympiad 2026 – Sep (exact dates TBA) | Tashkent

World Wrestling Championships – Oct 24 onwards | Bahrain

World Weightlifting Championships – Oct 27 to Nov 8 | China

ISSF World Shooting Championships – Nov 1 onwards | Doha, Qatar

World Chess Championship 2026 – Dates & venue TBA