India's Mega Sports Year 2026: Three World Cups, Olympic Dreams Begin!

• 2026 promises an exciting and challenging year for Indian sports, with world titles at stake and the start of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification cycle.
• Cricket takes center stage with three World Cups: U19 (Jan-Feb), Men's T20 (Feb-Mar, co-hosted by India/Sri Lanka), and Women's T20 (June).
• Key events include Australian Open, All England Badminton, AFC Women's Asian Cup, Candidates Chess, Asian Boxing, Thomas & Uber Cup, ITTF World Team TT, Diamond League, French Open, Wimbledon, and FIFA World Cup.
• Commonwealth Games (July-Aug) in Glasgow will see India compete, though shooting, wrestling, and hockey are excluded; followed by World Badminton and Hockey World Cups in August.
• Asian Games (Sep-Oct) in Japan offers crucial Olympic qualification spots for LA2028, alongside World Championships in Wrestling, Weightlifting, ISSF, and Chess later in the year.

Why It Matters: 2026 is a monumental year for Indian sports with multiple World Cups and Olympic qualification at stake.