The Biggest Sports Betting Events For 2026
There are some unmissable sports events in 2026 – and BetMGM is here to guide you through it all.
From the World Cup to Cheltenham horse racing, the Winter Olympics and Wimbledon, the list of big sporting events 2026 has to offer is, well, big!
If you’re planning your 2026 sports betting for the year, here are the events, tournaments and matches to add to your calendar.
BetMGM Premier League Darts
Dates: 5th February to 28th May
The BetMGM Premier League Darts returns in 2026 with a new record prize fund of £1.25 million.
Luke Humphries will be defending his title across 17 nights between February and May, with the Finals scheduled for 28th May at London’s O2 Arena.
From Newcastle to Antwerp, Dublin and Berlin, the BetMGM Premier League Darts brings the oche to the fans. Darts Premier League betting also goes into hyperdrive, with live odds on every match, player specials, and extensive outright darts bets from the first arrow to the grand final.
Humphries is the man to beat, with Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen all tipped to be in contention. If 2025 was a great year for darts, just wait to see what 2026 brings!
Six Nations
Dates: 5th February to 14th March
The Six Nations is one of the 2026 sports betting events that threatens to upset the odds from the first game. France are heavy favourites to defend their title after edging England by one point in 2025, but Ireland and Scotland stand a fighting chance here, too.
Indeed, this is a real test of where each nation stands, heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The schedule arguably favours England and France, who meet in the final game in Saint-Denis on 14th March.
Can Wales break their horrendous losing streak? Can Scotland cause an upset? And will Ireland, who were fancied for the World Cup just a year ago, restore confidence following a difficult autumn?
So many questions for rugby betting fans to ask. We'll know the answers from 5th February onwards, when the following games get underway: France vs Ireland – 5th February at 8:10pm Italy vs Scotland – 7th February at 2:10pm England vs Wales – 7th February at 4:40pm
Winter Olympics
Dates: 6th to 22nd February
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo is not to be missed this February. With 116 events taking place across eight sports, punters have plenty of opportunities to bet on some less familiar events.
Speed skating, bobsleigh, curling and figure skating will likely dominate the news headlines, while biathlon and cross country skiing are the events to watch for Winter Olympics betting fans this winter.
Italy will host the Games, with events taking place in Milan, Cortina d'Ampezzo and other Alpine locations. Keep a keen eye out for the ice hockey odds during February, as USA and Canada seek gold in both the men's and women's events.
The Big Game
Date: 8th February
Get ready for the Greatest Show on Earth! American Football’s Big Game is back on 8th February at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara – and BetMGM is ready to bring you extensive, live American Football odds throughout the game.
Kansas City's disastrous season means the odds were scattered across a handful of teams. In the end, Seattle and New England made it to the Big Game.
Three of the last four have been tight match-ups, and we can expect another close clash in February. What's more, this year’s Big Game features a halftime show from Bad Bunny and a few other surprises, too.
Keep an eye out for BetMGM's Early Payouts on games throughout the season, as well as the final showdown.
The Big Game kicks off at 23:30 in the UK, with viewers able to watch on TV via 5.
Cheltenham Festival
Date: 10th to 13th March
Cheltenham betting returns for another horse racing extravaganza in 2026 – and this year could be something special.
Past winners Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin are tipped to battle it out again in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Il Etait Temps is favourite in the BetMGM Champion Chase.
Cheltenham is the World Cup, Olympics and Super Bowl of horse racing mixed into one! With 28 races to bet on across four days and two racecourses, there really is something for everyone.
Be sure to check out BetMGM's Cheltenham betting offers and welcome bonuses during the festival.
Grand National
Date: 11th April
The Grand National is one of the major sporting events 2026 has to offer that promises drama and tension from start to finish.
Heavy favourites and against-the-odds outsiders seem to have an equal chance of winning this marathon horse race over 30 fences at Aintree. The trick is to find a Grand National bet that suits you.
There really is no knowing who will win the Grand National, and punters spend hours pouring over race cards… sometimes to simply shut their eyes and back a random horse!
If you're new to horse racing betting then be sure to check out BetMGM's Grand National betting guide, tips, and expert analysis before the big race.
The 2026 Grand National starts at 4pm on Saturday 11th April. It takes around 10 minutes for horses to complete the 30-jump course, and the race will be shown live on ITV and via live stream at BetMGM.
FA Cup Final
Date: 16th May
The FA Cup final remains a showpiece event in the 2026 sports betting calendar and Crystal Palace's victory last year proves it's not just a competition for the elites. Upsets happen even in the final, so keep an eye on the football odds – both pre-game and live – on FA Cup final day. They're likely to jump at some point!
One quick tip: FA Cup finals are usually close games. Even if the teams are unevenly matched, each of the past six have been won by a single goal or penalties.
Gone are the days of one-sided results in the FA Cup final and bettors should take note of this when Wembley prepares to host the 2026 showdown.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea were the pre-tournament favourites to lift the trophy this season, while Aston Villa, Brentford and Leeds are well-fancied outsiders.
Champions League Final
Date: 30th May
Here's a weird quirk for Champions League bettors – only one team has scored in each of the last seven Champions League finals. Usually the final is a close affair, with each showdown between 2019 and 2024 featuring either a 1-0 or 2-0 result. The 2025 final, where PSG demolished Inter 5-0, was an outlier.
This season's Champions League final could be a standout among the sporting events 2026 has to offer. Why? Because it's near-impossible to predict who will make it to Budapest. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and PSG are the frontrunners in the Champions League odds, but Barcelona, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea are also firmly in contention.
No one expected Inter to make the final in 2025, or Dortmund in 2024.
What we can expect, though, is a tight clash where the live Champions League odds will likely fluctuate wildly when goals go in.
One week before the showdown, the Women' s Champions League final kicks off in Oslo (23rd May) with Lyon, Munich, Barcelona and Chelsea all into the knockout stages.
World Cup 2026
Date: 11th June to 19th July
Summer 2026 will be remembered for one thing: the biggest World Cup of all time. An expanded tournament sees 48 teams compete across an eye-watering 104 games in the USA, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Kick off times for UK bettors range from 3pm to 3am, with England and Scotland's group stage games taking place at night. Get ready to stock up on coffee – this is going to be a long tournament.
England's chances of winning the World Cup are high, with only Spain tipped shorter than the Three Lions at BetMGM. Saying that, the likes of France, Brazil, Portugal and reigning champions Argentina can't be overlooked.
BetMGM will be offering extensive, live World Cup odds across the summer, from the first game on 11th June between Mexico and South Africa, through to the final on 19th July.
England are tipped to win Group L (yes, Group L!) that includes Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Scotland, meanwhile, are underdogs in Group C but could spring a surprise against Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Third place can be enough to sneak into the last-32.
Wimbledon
Date: 29th June to 12th July
Wimbledon takes place bang in the middle of the World Cup this year but, because the World Cup is in North America, UK punters can enjoy daytime tennis betting before settling into an evening of football.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the past two years in Men's singles tennis, while there has been a different winner in each of the past eight Women's tournaments.
Wimbledon betting therefore offers something for everyone. If you prefer to bet with the favourites, then the Men's tournament is where you'll find reliable tennis accas and straight-set bets. If you tend to chase higher odds, then the Women's tournament – with its greater competition and higher levels of uncertainty – is the place to be.
PDC World Darts Championship
Date: December to January
Nothing quite says Christmas like the World Darts Championship… right? Seven months on from the BetMGM Premier League Darts, December is the moment to don the fancy dress, get your tickets for the arrows, and enjoy the action under the lights.
Every match is live on Sky Sports and the PDC has expanded its World Championship to 128 players, meaning the top seeds now enter from the first round.
There's almost always one against-the-odds upset in the opening round, so keep an eye on the World Darts Championship betting markets!
Take note, too, of BetMGM's player specials and extensive live odds during the tournament. If there's one thing to rival the Premier League Darts, it's the World Championship. Let the arrows begin!
