Africa’s sporting year has a rhythm of its own. In Johannesburg more than 90,000 fans pack FNB Stadium for the Soweto Derby. In KwaZulu-Natal thousands of runners tackle the road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. In Dakar the first Olympic event ever held on African soil is only weeks away.
With 54 countries and very different climates, keeping track of it all is hard. This guide covers the season, the hotspots and the flagship events in seven sports.
Africa’s Sporting Calendar at a Glance: The Next 12 Months
October 9 to 11, 2026, Safari 7s, Nairobi: The 28th edition of Kenya’s international rugby sevens tournament takes place at Nyayo National Stadium.
October 25, 2026, Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon
October 30 to November 8, 2026, Tour du Faso, Burkina Faso: The 37th edition returns to the international cycling calendar over ten stages.
October 31 to November 13, 2026, Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: The Games open on 31 October and close on 13 November.
December 26, 2026, Boxing Day Test, Centurion: South Africa host England at SuperSport Park in the second Test of a three-match series.
January 17, 2027, SA20 Season 5 opener: Sunrisers Eastern Cape face Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
March 14, 2027, Cape Town Cycle Tour: The 109 km ride around the Cape Peninsula is held on this Sunday.
June 19, 2027, AFCON 2027 kickoff: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda stage the tournament, with the final set for July 17.
2nd October to 21st November 2027, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: South Africa co-host with Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Football: The Heartbeat of the Continent
Football is far more than a pastime across Africa. It shapes weekends, rivalries and national pride.
The Season:
Most major domestic leagues run from roughly August or September to May. CAF’s continental club competitions, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, build toward their finals in the same window.
Regional Hotspots:
North Africa: Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are known for tactical football and passionate ultras.
Southern Africa: South Africa offers modern stadiums and huge local rivalries.
West and Central Africa: Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon produce physical, high-intensity football and a steady flow of talent.
Must-see matches and tournaments:
The Cairo Derby, Egypt: Al Ahly against Zamalek pits two of Africa’s most decorated clubs against each other in the capital.
The Soweto Derby, South Africa: Kaizer Chiefs meet Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, in one of the loudest atmospheres in African sport.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON): Morocco hosted the most recent edition. AFCON 2027 is the first to be hosted by three countries. After the 2028 edition the tournament moves to a four-year cycle, and a new Africa Nations League is planned from 2029.
Athletics and Running: Where Legends are Born
East Africa sets the global standard in distance running. The calendar mixes elite road races with some of the world’s most famous mass-participation events.
Regional Hotspots:
The Rift Valley highlands of Kenya and Ethiopia are the global centre of elite distance training. South Africa leads in ultra-distance road running.
Must-See Events:
Comrades Marathon, South Africa (June): The race has run almost every year since 1921 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The 2026 edition, the 99th, was an up run of 85.777 km. Runners have 12 hours to finish. The direction alternates each year and the exact distance changes slightly, so check the officia website for the latest route.
Two Oceans Marathon, South Africa: This 56km ultra through the Cape Peninsula is usually held over Easter weekend.
Nairobi City Marathon, Kenya: The 2026 race drew a record 17,450 runners from 75 countries. It was held on June 7. The 2025 edition was in July.
Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon, Kenya: The next edition is on October 25, 2026.
Kigali International Peace Marathon, Rwanda (June): It is held in the second week of June. It began in 2005 as a sporting message of peace and unity.
Rugby Union: Southern Might and Rising Stars
South Africa’s Springboks are four-time Rugby World Cup winners. Rugby sevens is growing fast across East Africa.
Must-See Events:
The Rugby Championship, South Africa: Springbok home Tests against New Zealand, Australia or Argentina at Ellis Park or Loftus Versfeld are a bucket-list experience. The tournament is typically played from August to September.
The Currie Cup, South Africa: Widely described as the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world.
Safari 7s, Kenya (October): The tournament has run every year since 1996 except 2020 and 2022. The 2026 edition runs October 9 to 11 with 12 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams. Kenya’s Shujaa and Lionesses arrive as reigning champions.
Cycling: From Mass Tours to Elite Climbs
Regional Hotspots:
South Africa is home to Africa’s big lifestyle tours and stage races. Rwanda has become the continent’s leading road cycling destination.
Must-See Events:
Cape Town Cycle Tour, South Africa (March): Formerly the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, it began in 1978 and draws more than 35,000 riders, making it the largest individually timed cycle race in the world.
Absa Cape Epic, South Africa (usually March): An eight-day mountain bike stage race through the Western Cape.
Tour du Rwanda, Rwanda (late February): It has held UCI 2.1 status since 2019. The 2026 race ran February 22 to March 1 over eight stages and 993 km. Rwanda also hosted the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the first on African soil, and organizers are exploring a higher race status.
Tour du Faso, Burkina Faso (October and November): The race is rated 2.2 on the UCI calendar. It was created in 1987 and the 2026 edition runs October 30 to November 8.
Cricket: Summer Traditions and Franchise Fire
Cricket thrives in the southern summer, from October to April.
Regional Hotspots:
South Africa and Zimbabwe are Test-playing nations. Namibia is a rising force in associate cricket.
Must-See Events:
SA20, South Africa (January and February): Six franchises play a home and away league. Season 5 starts on January 17, 2027 and Newlands hosts the final.
The Boxing Day Test, South Africa (December 26): A holiday tradition. In 2026 it is played at SuperSport Park in Centurion against England, and the series also visits the Wanderers and Newlands.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027: It is co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Basketball: The Continent’s New Frontier
The Season:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) runs from about March to May. It is a partnership between FIBA and NBA Africa.
The 2026 Format:
The sixth season had 12 teams from 12 countries. The Kalahari Conference was played in Pretoria and the Sahara Conference in Rabat. The playoffs and finals ran May 22 to 31 at BK Arena in Kigali. RSSB Tigers were crowned 2026 champions. Dates for the next season had not been announced.
Traditional Combat Sports: Culture Meets Heavy Hitting
West Africa offers sport found nowhere else.
La Lutte Sénégalaise, Senegal: Senegalese wrestling is often described as the country’s most popular sport. It blends grappling and striking with drumming, dance and spiritual ritual. It is also followed in The Gambia.
Dambe, Nigeria: A traditional Hausa boxing form practised in the north of the country.
Big fights are announced only weeks ahead, so follow official federation and local media announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is AFCON 2027?
It kicks off on June 19, 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
What is the biggest ultra-marathon in Africa?
The Comrades Marathon in South Africa, run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg with a 12-hour cut-off.
When does the Basketball Africa League play?
The 2026 season ran from late March to the end of May, with the finals in Kigali.
Which African sporting events are happening soon?
Safari 7s in Nairobi (October 9 to 11), the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon (October 25), Tour du Faso (from October 30) and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (from October 31).
Plan Your Sports Trip, Then Save and Share
Dates can change, so confirm with organisers before you book flights. To discover events, venues and registration across Africa, browse Sports in Africa. Organizers can list or claim an event for free.
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