NBA returns to the capital as cricket, tennis, rugby and global championships drive a packed calendar expected to deliver more than £100m to the UK economy.

London is set for an exceptional year of sport in 2026, headlined by the return of regular-season NBA basketball and culminating in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s.

Building on a landmark 2025 that saw the capital cement its status as a global hub for women’s sport, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged to keep attracting the world’s biggest sporting events, strengthening London’s international profile and economic impact.

Top-level US basketball will return to the capital in January, when the Orlando Magic face the Memphis Grizzlies at The O2 Arena on 18 January. The fixture marks the NBA’s first regular-season game in London since 2019, ending a six-year absence. Organisers estimate that the NBA London Game 2026, alongside a scheduled NBA game in Manchester in 2027, will generate an economic boost of more than £100 million for the UK.

Cricket will take centre stage in early summer, with Lord’s hosting the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on 5 July. The Kia Oval will stage both semi-finals on 30 June and 2 July, while the two London venues will also host key group-stage matches as the 12-team tournament is played across England and Wales.

London’s tennis calendar will be equally strong. The HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club will once again feature elite women’s and men’s competition in June, following the return of women’s tennis to the venue after more than 50 years. Later in the year, the Laver Cup returns to The O2 from 25–27 September, making London the first city to host the prestigious team event twice. World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has already been confirmed for Team Europe, with American Taylor Fritz set to represent Team World.

Table tennis will also take the spotlight in spring, as London hosts the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships across the Copper Box Arena and Arena Wembley. The event, featuring 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams, will mark the centenary of the first World Championships, which were held in London in 1926.

American football expands its footprint in the capital in September, when Wembley Stadium stages its first-ever college game. The Kansas Jayhawks will face the Arizona State Sun Devils in the inaugural Union Jack Classic, ahead of the NFL’s return to London later in the year.

Rugby rounds out the year, with Twickenham hosting the finals weekend of the inaugural Nations Championship in November. The new biennial competition brings together leading nations from the northern and southern hemispheres, with three double-header matchdays in London set to decide the first champions.

Alongside these showcase events, London will continue to host its established annual sporting programme, including the Six Nations, the TCS London Marathon, the Women’s FA Cup Final, Wimbledon, Formula E, Premier League and Women’s Super League football, and major athletics and triathlon events.

Looking beyond 2026, the capital is central to several high-profile international bids, with a particular emphasis on women’s sport. London is seeking to host stages of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes, is part of the bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships, and has been named as a key host-city partner in the UK’s sole bid to stage the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

With record crowds, global audiences and significant economic returns already delivered in recent years, London’s sporting calendar for 2026 underlines the city’s ambition to remain one of the world’s leading destinations for elite sport.

The Mayor of London, 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.  

“It’s a great opportunity for Londoners and visitors to attend some of these amazing sports events and experience everything our city has to offer, as we work to build a better, healthier, more prosperous London for everyone.”

Beth Barrett-Wild, Tournament Director, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, said: "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.

 “World-class athletes will descend on England and Wales for 24 days of high octane, elite sport that will not only engage countless fans across the country but also deliver lasting impact for the growth of women’s sport. And with tickets for some of the biggest clashes at The Oval and Lord’s already close to selling out, Londoners should act now to secure their chance to be part of history.”

Jack Buckner, CEO of British Athletics, said: “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.

“We are also excited to be working with the Mayor and partners to bring the 2029 World Athletics Championships back to the capital, which would be another hugely significant moment as we grow the sport across the UK.”

Tony Godsick, Laver Cup Chairman and TEAM8 CEO, said: “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. We’re excited to return with another world-class competition and to deliver another unforgettable experience for fans in London."

Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, the tournament organiser of the Nations Championship, 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, with hundreds of thousands of fans filling the stadium, and millions more watching around the world. The Nations Championship will stand alongside some of the biggest sporting events of the year in 2026, and London will add to its legacy in delivering world class experiences for fans.”

Chris Pollard, LTA Managing Director, Commercial and Operations, said: “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.

“We're excited to be working with the Mayor of London and partners across the capital to open tennis up to more people, by providing opportunities to enjoy world class tennis at the HSBC Championships, and inspiring the next generation to pick up a racket and play.”

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.

“We can’t wait to welcome the world to the city for a thrilling event which will give tens of thousands of fans the chance to see the world’s best players up close – and the players are sure to respond to the atmosphere generated by a passionate crowd. We’re confident these will be a fantastic World Championships which will deliver incredible action and create a lasting legacy through our social impact projects.”

Simon Morton, Deputy CEO and Director of Events, Sporting System and External Affairs at UK Sport, said: “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.

“From triathlon to table tennis and from football to cycling, we want the UK to continue to host a programme of events that brings people together, provides extraordinary moments of happiness for spectators, builds pride in our communities, bolsters our international reputation and delivers success for British athletes. I have no doubt that the schedule of events earmarked for London in 2026 will do all of this and more.”

Graham Gilmore, CEO of London Stadium, said: "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."  Photo by McPhail, Wikimedia commons.