World sporting events calendar

Buy tickets and make travel plans for the biggest games and major tournaments using our month-by-month guide to important finals and annual contests.

Big global sporting events and major tournaments - whether football, cricket, tennis, racing or golf championships - are always a great spectacle. Here is Suite101’s guide to the finals, cups and contests covered by our writers, in a handy month-by-month calendar so fans will always know when to buy tickets and make travel plans.

January Sporting Events and Championships

Auckland, New Zealand: Heineken Open Tennis

February Sporting Events and Championships

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA: Daytona 500 (NASCAR racing)

Wellington, New Zealand: International Rugby Sevens

March Sporting Events and Championships

London, England: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (rowing)

Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland Cup Week (horse race)

San Ignacio, Belize: La Ruta Maya Canoe Race

April Sporting Events and Championships

Aintree, Liverpool, England: The Grand National (horse racing)

Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England: Shrovetide Football (football/ soccer)

London, England: The London Marathon (athletics)

London, England: Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (rowing)

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England: World Snooker Championships (snooker)

Paris, France: Paris Marathon (athletics)

May Sporting Events and Championships

Europe: UEFA Champions’ League final (football/ soccer)

Europe: Europe: Heineken Cup Final (rugby union)

Bentley Bridge Inn, Derbyshire, England: World toe-wrestling championships (toe-wrestling)

London, England: FA Cup Final (football/ soccer)

Paris, France: Roland Garros/ French Open (tennis)

Monaco: Monaco Grand Prix (Formula One motor racing)

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: Indy 500 festival (motor racing)

June Sporting Events and Championships

London, England: Wimbledon Tennis Championships (tennis)

Paris, France: Roland Garros/ French Open (tennis)

July Sporting Events and Championships

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia: Beer Can Regatta

London, England: Wimbledon Tennis Championships (tennis)

France: Tour De France (cycling)

Sonkajärvi, Finland: World Wife-Carrying Championship (akankanto)

Sedilo, Sardinia, Italy: Ardia (horse race)

Siena, Tuscany, Italy: Il Palio (horse-racing)

Ustica, Sicily, Italy: International Festival of Underwater Activities (SCUBA diving)

Erdine, Turkey: Erdine Oil-Wrestling Championships

August Sporting Events and Championships

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia: Henley-On-Todd Regatta

London, England, UK: FA Community Shield

Siena, Tuscany, Italy: Il Palio (horse-racing)

Llantrwyd Wells, Wales: World Bog Snorkelling Championships

September Sporting Events and Championships

Bognor Regis, Sussex, England: Bognor International Birdman Competition (flying)

Egremont, Cumbria, England: World Gurning Championships (gurning)

Berlin, Germany: Berlin Marathon

Cabras, Sardinia, Italy: Barefoot Race of the Festa Di San Salvatore

Lisbon, Portugal: Half Marathon of Portugal

October Sporting Events and Championships

Les Deux Alps, France: Mondial Du Snowboard

Martigny, Switzerland: Combat des Reines (cow fighting)

Newry, Maine, USA: North American Wife-Carrying Championship

November Sporting Events and Championships

Wasdale, Cumbria, England: World’s Biggest Liar Contest

New York City, New York, USA: New York Marathon (athletics)

December Sporting Events and Championships

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG (cricket)

Barnstaple, Devon, England: The Santa Run (athletics)