Biggest Sports Events in 2026: The Ultimate Guide

December is here, which means we are just one month away from 2026. No one can deny that 2025 was interesting, but we firmly believe that 2026 will be even more exciting. The team at Nostrabet.com took the time to analyze all of the upcoming competitions, so it’s time to learn more about them. There might be changes to the dates and/or certain details, but don’t worry, we will ensure you are the first to know.

2026 Winter Olympics

We will kick off 2026 with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano & Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy.

• The competition will offer us a variety of events across different sports, including figure skating, biathlon, snowboarding, alpine skiing, and more.
• The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held between February 6 and 22, and we’ll see a total of 16 disciplines. In total, we will see people from over 90 nations. Interestingly, this will be the first Winter Olympics in Italy in 20 years. 
• When it comes to betting, the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will definitely provide a lot of options. Bookmakers will let people bet on the outright winner in each of the specific disciplines. There will also be options for things like Medal Count Betting, Podium Finish, Athlete Matchups, and Open Ceremony Props. 

Considering the tournament’s significance, we would not be surprised if there are special no deposit bonuses, boosts and cashback deals. All three are usually present during any Olympic Games competition.

2026 Winter Paralympics

Shortly after the 2026 Winter Olympics come to an end, we will have access to the 2026 Winter Paralympics.

• Taking place between March 6-16, the games will be held in the same location as the previous event. According to the information we have so far, the competition will bring together over 1500 para-athletes across the following disciplines: para alpine skiing, wheelchair curling, para snowboard, para ice hockey, and biathlon.
• People who’ve been following some sports betting sites know that Paralympic betting markets are increasing rapidly in popularity. They are not on the same level as the regular Olympics, which means bookmakers could offer more variance in odds. 
• Speaking of betting markets and options you can find, you can expect Medal Tables, Head-to-head athlete matchups, Event Winner, Sport-specific Medal Leaders and others.

The Paralympics often provide a lot of opportunities to people who know how to take advantage of them. Many users underestimate the event and what it can offer, but it’s definitely something to consider.

The bookmakers that will offer special options for the 2026 Winter Olympics are likely to do the same for the 2026 Winter Paralympics. In other words, expect to find boosted odds, free bets, cashback, and all sorts of other deals.

2026 FIFA World Cup

Between June 11 and July 19, 2026, football fans from around the world will have access to the most important competition in the sport.

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico and will include a total of 16 host cities: New York, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toronto, and Vancouver.
• What’s new about the 2026 FIFA World Cup is that it will have a new format for 48 teams (we used to see 32 teams before). There will be 12 groups of 4 teams each, and the two from each group will advance to the knockout stage. Aside from them, we will also see 8 of the best 3rd-placed teams.

An interesting fact about this event is that it will be the first FIFA World Cup to take place in more than one country since 2002. Mexico will become the first country in the world to host the competition three times. Prior to this event, Mexico hosted it in 1970 and 1986.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Betting Options

In terms of favorites, all eyes will be on Argentina, Germany, Brazil and Spain. If we take a look at some of the bookies, we can also see that England is on the list. Of course, the fact that the tournament will have 48 teams in total also increases the “dark horse potential”.

This will be the most commercially massive World Cup ever, and having so many teams means good news for online bettors. Every single bookmaker will offer something for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, such as better bonuses, new markets, special coverage, and exclusive bonuses.

Aside from all of the standard betting options, players will have access to Tournament Winners, Group Stage Winner, To Reach Final, and many other markets. The bonuses will include free bets, odds boosts, and even no-deposit bonuses.

We recommend following us regularly, as we will be publishing a series of articles about the upcoming competition. There is no denying that the World Cup 2026 will be the highlight of the year for any football fan.

2026 Commonwealth Games

The next sports event that bettors can focus on is the 2026 Commonwealth Games that will be held in Glasgow. People wishing to watch these matches can do so between July 23 and August 2 and will see players from over 70 Commonwealth countries.

• Like other big competitions, this one will have several different sports. We will have access to cycling, track & field, swimming, boxing, netball, rugby sevens, weightlifting, badminton, and more.
• What’s interesting about this event is that it should have taken place in Australia. However, the country had to withdraw its application, and this allowed Glasgow to step in.

Since the 2026 Commonwealth Games will have so many different sports, online bettors will always have something to choose from. The fact that this event takes place in Scotland is an advantage for local punters because some of the best bookmakers operate there.

There will definitely be at least a few special bonuses, and we would not be surprised if most local bookies also give people access to a live stream. Only time will tell, so make sure to follow us.

2026 Asian Games

The 2026 Asian Games will offer a similar experience to the Olympics, as they will feature numerous sports. Assuming that everything remains as it is, there will be over 10,000 athletes from over 45 Asian nations. We expect to see sports like soccer, basketball, athletics, swimming, table tennis, Esports, combat sports, and more.

• The 2026 Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya, Japan. 
• Alongside all of these sports, the Asian Games will also give us access to esports. This will increase the tournament’s betting potential significantly because esports have become one of the leading choices for punters. We expect to see a variety of new markets and special bonuses, and all of the esports games will be broadcast in real-time.
• In terms of the esports we’ll see, fans will have access to several titles. The list consists of these: Street Fighter 6, Honor of Kings, Gran Turismo 7, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang; Pokemon Unite, Dreams of 3 Kingdom, eFootball Series and Puyo Puyo Champions.

ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026

Cricket is slowly making its way to become one of the go-to sports for online bettors. If you are among them, you’ll be happy with the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026.

• The tournament will be between February 7 and March 8, and in two countries – India and Sri Lanka.
• The opening clash will be in Colombo. The game that everyone will be waiting for (India vs Pakistan) will be on February 15, 2026.
• In terms of the event’s format, it is in T20, which is the shortest World Cup format in the sport. There will be a Group Stage, followed by Super 8s, Semi-finals, and the Final.
• India is definitely the main favorite, but England, Australia, and Pakistan are also formidable opponents. They will do whatever they can to snatch the victory.

Every single website that offers betting on cricket will provide at least a handful of different options. You will most likely find at least a few other short-term promotions and new markets. Some companies may even provide fantasy cricket betting.

Other Tournaments

Aside from all the biggest sports events in 2026, fans will also have access to the “usual suspects”. Starting with football, there will be things like the UEFA Champions League Final. Fans will also see the AFCON 2025 final (the majority of the tournament will be held in January, but the actual event starts in December).

In terms of tennis, we will also see all of the big events like Wimbledon, the US Open and more. The same is true for basketball because we’ll see the NBA Finals. People who like American football will also have the chance to watch the Super Bowl. This “version” should be even more special because it will be the 60th edition.

Lastly, we also have all the major esports competitions that have become fan favorites among line bettors. We will have things like The International 2026, Worlds 2026, the Esports Worlds Cup 2026, and much more.