The most popular sports events in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom hosts a plethora of sports events each year, many of which are renowned as the pinnacle of their respective disciplines.

Determining which events are the most popular can be subjective, especially for fans who feel a strong affinity for their favourite sport.

For example, followers of horse racing may believe that no other events can compare to the Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot.

However, darts fans are likely to insist that the World Darts Championship and Premier League Darts are the highlights of the sporting year in the UK.

With that in mind, we have scoured the calendar to identify ten of the most popular sports events in the UK, starting with an iconic football institution.

The most popular sports events in the UK

FA Cup Final

With a history dating back to 1872, the FA Cup Final is firmly established as one of the most important sports events in the UK.

Widely recognised as the world’s greatest knockout football competition, the Wembley Stadium showpiece is a dream event for fans and players alike.

World Darts Championship

After launching in January 1992, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has established darts as one of the most-watched sports on the planet.

The World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London is the standout event of the year, book-ending the annual sports calendar in the UK.

Cheltenham Festival

The Cheltenham Festival in March is the pinnacle of the National Hunt season in the UK. It always attracts massive in-person crowds and strong television viewership.

The four-day meeting is packed with top-class races, each of which generates a massive wave of wagering on online betting sites.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships

While tennis may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is impossible to downplay the popularity of the annual Wimbledon Championships.

Staged during the summer at the All-England Club in London, this two-week event is one of four Grand Slam tournaments held each year.

Grand National

The Grand National at Aintree was first held in 1839 and remains one of the most beloved sporting events in the UK each year.

The long-distance steeplechase is rated as the ultimate test of a horse and jockey, and unsurprisingly garners huge interest in the betting industry.

Royal Ascot

While Royal Ascot is horse racing’s third entry on the list of the most popular sports events in the UK, it adds a little more glitz and glamour to proceedings than mere equine action.

The five-day meeting is a unique mix of royal pageantry, fashion and social occasion, making it a ‘bucket-list’ event for sports fans worldwide.

Six Nations Rugby Union Championship

The annual Six Nations Rugby Union Championship is contested by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy during the early part of the year.

It is hugely popular with rugby fans, particularly in Wales, where rugby union tends to overshadow football and horse racing in terms of popularity.

The Open Championship

First staged at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland in 1860, The Open Championship is one of the most important events in the annual golf calendar.

The tournament rotates among a select group of coastal links golf courses in the UK, presenting a unique challenge for participants.

World Snooker Championship

The World Snooker Championship is another sporting event that holds a special place in the hearts and minds of fans in the UK.

The annual tournament was first held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1977 and has remained there since.

Friendship Series

Northern Ireland is renowned for its passion for sports, particularly the Gaelic Games, football, horse racing and rugby union.

However, it is also a hotbed for ice hockey. Staged annually at the SSE Arena in Belfast, the Friendship Series is a hugely popular showcase of NCAA Division 1 ice hockey.

Top sports events in the UK in 2026

Here are the dates for the top sports events taking place in the UK in 2026:

January

• January 3: Darts – PDC Darts World Championship Final – Alexandra Palace, London

February

• February 5 – March 14: Rugby union – Six Nations Championship – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland & Wales
• February 5: Darts – Premier League Darts Opening Night – Utilita Arena, Newcastle
• February 25: Football – League Cup Final – Wembley Stadium, London

March

• March 10-13: Horse racing – Cheltenham Festival – Cheltenham

April

• April 5: Horse racing – Grand National – Aintree
• April 18 – May 4: Snooker – World Snooker Championships – Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

May

• May 17: Football – FA Cup Final – Wembley Stadium, London
• May 23-25: Football – English Football League Play-Offs – Wembley Stadium, London
• May 23: Football – Scottish Cup Final – Hampden Park, Glasgow
• May 24: Football – Premier League 2025/26 final day – Various
• May 28: Premier League Darts Finals Night – O2 Arena, London

June

• June 6: Horse racing – The Derby – Epsom
• June 16-20: Horse racing – Royal Ascot – Ascot
• June 29 – July 12: Tennis – Wimbledon Championships – All England Lawn Tennis Club, London

July

• July 5: Formula 1 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone, Northamptonshire
• July 17-20: Golf – The Open Championship – Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport
• July 18-26: Darts – World Matchplay Darts – Winter Gardens, Blackpool
• July 23 – Aug 2: Multi-sports – Commonwealth Games – Glasgow

August

• August 10-16: Athletics – European Athletics Championships – Birmingham
• August 15: Football – Premier League 2026/27 begins – Various

September

• September 12: Horse racing – St Leger Stakes – Doncaster

October

• October 17: Horse racing – British Champions Day – Ascot

November

• TBA: Darts – Grand Slam of Darts – Wolverhampton

December

• TBA: Darts – World Darts Championship – Alexandra Palace, London
• December 26: Horse racing: King George VI Chase – Kempton

Other sports events staged in the UK

Numerous other major sports events are staged in the UK. For example, the bi-annual battle between England and Australia for The Ashes is a standout event for cricket fans.

Rugby league, athletics, boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), and rallying are among the other sports with a sizeable following in the UK.