​With the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup, Winter Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games all on the calendar, 2026 is shaping up to be another landmark year for sport, with Australian teams and athletes once again at the forefront. The Sporting News offers a concise rundown of all the major dates and match-ups you’ll want to pencil into your 2026 diary. Save this page so you never miss a moment of the action.
In cricket, England will host the Fifth Ashes Test at the SCG from January 4 to 8. Bangladesh will play a home two-Test series in winter, while South Africa embarks on a three-Test away series in September and October. New Zealand will play four Tests at home between November and January.
In tennis, the Open Round begins on Sunday, January 8, with the Women’s Singles Final set for Saturday, January 31 and the Men’s Singles Final on Sunday, February 1. The French Open runs from Sunday, May 24 to Sunday, June 7, followed by Wimbledon from Monday, June 29 to Sunday, July 12. The US Open is scheduled from Sunday, August 30 to Sunday, September 13.
In athletics and ceremony dates, the Opening Match is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, February 6 and the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, February 22. The Matildas’ fixtures begin with a game against the Philippines in Perth on Sunday, March 1, followed by a match against IR Iran on the Gold Coast on Thursday, March 5, and a clash with Korea Republic in Sydney on Sunday, March 8. The Final is set for Saturday, March 21 in Sydney.
The State of Origin series will feature Western Australia versus Victoria on Saturday, February 14 at Optus Stadium. In rugby league, the AFL season opens with Sydney facing Carlton at the SCG on Thursday, March 5, and the AFL Gather Round runs from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12 in South Australia. The AFL Grand Final is slated for Saturday, September 26 at the MCG. In the World Club Challenge, Hull KR meets the Brisbane Broncos on February 19 at the MKM Stadium.
The NRL season kicks off with its opening round in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 1. The Magic Round will run from Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17 at Suncorp Stadium. State of Origin games I, II and III are scheduled for May 27 (Accor Stadium), June 17 (MCG) and July 8 (Suncorp Stadium), respectively, with the NRL Grand Final set for Sunday, October 4 at Accor Stadium.
In golf, the US Masters will be played from April 9–12 in Augusta, Georgia, followed by the US PGA Championship from May 14–17 at Aronimink, Pennsylvania. The US Open is slated for June 18–21 at Shinnecock Hills, New York, and the British Open will take place from July 16–19 at Royal Birkdale. The Presidents Cup is scheduled for September 22–27 at Medinah Country Club in Illinois.
The Australian Open is planned from December 3–6 at Kingston Heath. The Kangaroos’ program features Game 1 against New Zealand on October 15 in Sydney, Game 2 versus Fiji on October 25 in Brisbane, and Game 3 against Cook Islands on October 31 in Townsville, culminating in the Final on November 15 in Brisbane. The Socceroos’ schedule includes a UEFA Qualifier against an opponent to be determined on June 13 in Vancouver, a match with the USA on June 19 in Seattle, and a clash with Paraguay on June 25 in San Francisco, ending with the Final on July 19 in New Jersey. The Opening Ceremony is set for July 23 and the Closing Ceremony for August 2.
The 2026 calendar promises a packed year across multiple sports, with a thorough lineup of fixtures and finals designed to keep fans engaged from January through November and beyond.