2020 was a unique year for sport. Fans were banned from stadiums, Euro 2020 was postponed until 2021, the US Masters at Augusta was held in November and the All-Ireland finals took place in December but nevertheless sport prevailed.
2021 looks to be a unique year also and there’s a jam-packed calendar of sport ahead of us and here are 50 of some of the best events to look forward to in 2021.
January 23rd/24th
Football – 2020 All-Ireland minor football final (Croke Park)
January 23rd
MMA – UFC 257: McGregor v Poirier (Abu Dhabi)
February 6th – 20th March
Rugby – Six Nations opening weekend: England v Scotland, Italy v France
February 7th
American Football – Super Bowl (Tampa, Florida)
February 8th – 21st
Tennis – Australian Open (Melbourne)
March 16th – 19th
Horse racing – Cheltenham Festival
March 21st
Formula 1 season starts – Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
March 24th & 25th
Football – World Cup qualifiers: Belgium v Wales (24th)
England v San Marino, Scotland v Israel, Italy v Northern Ireland (25th)
April 8th – 11th
Golf – Masters (Augusta National)
April 10th
Horse racing – Grand National (Aintree)
April 17th – May 3rd
Snooker – World Championship (Crucible Theatre)
April 25th
Football – League Cup final (Wembley)
May 8th
Football – Scottish Cup final (Hampden Park)
May 10th – 23rd
Aquatics – European Championships (Budapest, Hungary)
May 15th
Football – FA Cup final (Wembley)
May 16th
Football – Women’s Champions League final (Gothenburg)
May 22nd
Football – Women’s FA Cup final (Wembley)
May 22nd
Rugby Union – European Champions Cup final (Marseille)
May 23rd
Formula 1 – Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo)
May 23rd – June 6th
Tennis – French Open (Paris)
May 26th
Football – Europa League final (Gdansk)
May 29th
Football – Champions League final (Istanbul)
June 11th – July 11th
Football – Euro 2020 in various countries (final at Wembley)
June 26th – 18th July
Cycling – Tour de France
June 28th – 11th July
Tennis – Wimbledon
June 26th + 27th
Hurling: All-Ireland SHC semi-finals (Croke Park)
July 10th/11th
Hurling – All Ireland SHC final (Croke Park)
July 13th
Athletics – Diamond League: Anniversary Games (London Stadium)
July 15th – 18th
Golf – The Open (Royal St George’s)
July 17th/18th
Football – All-Ireland SFC final (Croke Park)
July 17th
Rugby League – Challenge Cup final (Wembley)
July 18th
Formula 1 – British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
July 23rd – August 8th
Olympic Games (Tokyo)
July 24th & 31st plus August 7th
Rugby Union – South Africa v British and Irish Lions Test series
August 19th – 22nd
Golf – Women’s British Open (Carnoustie)
August 24th – September 5th
Paralympic Games (Tokyo)
August 30th – September 12th
Tennis – US Open (New York)
September 4th – 6th
Golf – Solheim Cup (Toledo, Ohio)
September 24th – 26th
Golf – Ryder Cup (Whistling Straits, Wisconsin)
September 27th – October 1st
Cricket – Bob Willis Trophy final (Lord’s)
October 3rd
Athletics – London Marathon
October 9th
Rugby League – Super League Grand Final (Old Trafford)
October 23rd – November 27th
Rugby League – World Cup in England (men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments)
November 6th, 13th and 20th
Rugby Union – autumn internationals
November 15th – 16th
Football – World Cup qualifying final group games: San Marino v England, Northern Ireland v Italy, Scotland v Denmark (15th)
Wales v Belgium (16th)
December – January (TBA)
Darts – World Darts Championship (Alexandra Palace)
TBA Jul-Aug: Cricket – The Hundred*
18 Sept-16 Oct: Rugby Union – Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand*
Oct-Nov: Cricket – Men’s T20 World Cup in India*
Nov-Jan: Cricket – Australia v England five-Test Ashes series*
* = exact dates yet to be confirmed. All events subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions.