London hosts some of the world’s biggest sporting events — Wembley finals, Premier League derbies, international rugby, global boxing shows, UFC cards, NFL London games, elite athletics, darts tournaments and world-class tennis. This guide highlights the main events across 2025 and 2026, what to expect, typical pricing, how hard tickets are to get, and the best ways to experience them.
⚽ 1. Football — The Heart of London Sport
London is home to more professional football clubs than any other city. This makes it the centre of the English football calendar.
Premier League (Weekly): Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, Brentford, Fulham and Crystal Palace host home games across the season. Ticket difficulty varies massively between clubs. Big fixtures like Arsenal vs Liverpool or Spurs vs Chelsea sell out instantly, while West Ham or Fulham offer easier access.
Champions League, Europa League & Conference League: Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea frequently appear in European competitions. European nights are some of the loudest atmospheres in London.
FA Cup: Wembley hosts the semi-finals and final every year, drawing crowds of 70,000–90,000. Tickets are some of the hardest to obtain.
Carabao Cup Final: Also at Wembley — a major fixture in the football calendar, typically held in late February.
EFL Playoff Finals: Championship, League One & League Two playoff finals bring huge fanbases to Wembley in May. These are among the most emotional and dramatic football matches of the year.
🏉 2. Rugby — Twickenham, Big Games and Huge Crowds
Twickenham Stadium is the home of English rugby and hosts major events every year.
Six Nations (Feb–Mar): England home games attract 80,000+ fans. Atmosphere is electric, with strong traditions including pre-game singing, fan villages and extensive pub culture.
Autumn Internationals (Nov): England hosts top southern hemisphere teams such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Premiership Rugby: Harlequins and Saracens play regular home matches, with Harlequins often hosting “The Big Game” at Twickenham — drawing massive crowds.
Challenge Cup & Champions Cup Matches: When London clubs qualify, these events attract dedicated rugby supporters.
Tickets: Rugby is easier to access than football. Prices are typically £45–£110 for internationals.
🥊 3. Boxing & UFC — London’s Combat Sports Scene
London is one of the world’s biggest cities for boxing and UFC, regularly hosting sold-out events at The O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Boxing at The O2: Almost every British superstar — Joshua, Fury, Eubank Jr, Benn, Whyte — has fought here. The O2 offers excellent viewing angles and electric crowds.
Stadium Fights: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley occasionally host super-fights, drawing 60,000–90,000 fans.
UFC London: UFC returns to London most years. The O2 sells out instantly, with resale often the only route. Atmosphere is intense, loud and fast-paced.
[[IMAGE: London Combat Sports Events Group]]
Tickets:
Boxing lower-tier: £80–£150
Floor: £300–£800
UFC: £95–£350 (official), higher on resale.
🏈 4. NFL London Games — American Football in the UK
London has become the international home of the NFL outside the USA.
Venues: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (NFL-designed pitch) and Wembley Stadium.
Teams: Usually 3–4 games per season, featuring major franchises.
Crowd: Huge US fan culture, tailgates, jersey culture, and one of the best atmospheres for American sports outside the States.
Tickets: Sell out quickly. Prices range from £60–£180.
🎾 5. Tennis — Grass-Court Tradition
London is central to British tennis.
Queen’s Club Championships: Prestigious Wimbledon warm-up tournament in June. Tickets sell out quickly for later rounds.
Wimbledon (near London): While technically outside central London, it’s part of the city’s sporting culture. Public ballot and ticket queue still exist in 2025.
Laver Cup / ATP Events: Occasionally hosted in London depending on yearly rotation.
🏃 6. Athletics, Running & Multi-Sport Events
London Marathon (April): One of the world’s biggest marathons. Free to spectate, with over 40,000 runners and massive crowds lining the 26.2-mile route.
Diamond League (London Stadium): Major athletics meet featuring Olympic-level athletes.
Royal Parks Half Marathon: Annual scenic race through Hyde Park, Green Park and Kensington Gardens.
RideLondon: Mass cycling event attracting thousands of riders and spectators.
Tickets: Most running and cycling events are free for spectators.
🎯 7. Darts, Snooker, Basketball & Niche Events
London hosts a wide range of smaller but highly popular events:
World Darts Masters (Alexandra Palace): Huge crowds, fancy dress, and one of the best atmospheres in UK sport.
London Lions (Basketball): Compete at The Copper Box Arena. Fast-growing sport with excellent value tickets.
Snooker Tournaments (Alexandra Palace): High-level play with quiet, respectful spectator culture.
Formula E (London ePrix): Hosted in unique indoor/outdoor circuit at ExCel London.
📅 8. Best Time of Year for London Sport
January–March: Football + Six Nations + boxing events.
April–May: Football & rugby finals, London Marathon.
June–July: Tennis season, cricket, athletics.
August: Premier League returns, early-season fixtures.
September–October: NFL London, European group stages.
November–December: Autumn rugby + festive football.
🧭 9. Tips for Attending Sporting Events in London
Book early — especially for boxing, UFC, NFL, Premier League and key internationals.
Check bag restrictions.
Expect transport delays after major events.
Use Tube instead of Uber after stadium events.
Arrive 45–60 minutes before start time.
Check whether your ticket is mobile-only.
🔚 Final Word
London’s 2025–26 sporting calendar is packed with world-class events across every major sport. Whether you want Premier League drama, boxing super-fights, rugby internationals or American football, London offers a level of sporting entertainment unmatched by any city in Europe.