Major sports events in December 2025

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: December 3, 2025

As the winter holidays approach, the global sports calendar begins to slow down. However, that doesn't mean December will be short on excitement. A few standout tournaments and events will keep you entertained across various sports. To help you stay in the loop, the team at MightyTips has put together a full rundown of the biggest sporting events taking place in December 2025.

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals will take place on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The tournament is expanded to a 48-team contest, instead of the previous 32. This World Cup will also be the first since 2002 to be hosted by more than one nation. In fact, there will be three hosting countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

During the ceremony, the teams will be split into 12 groups of 4, setting the stage for the action kicking off in June 2026. Fans from all 16 host cities will also have the chance to attend via a special lottery for VIP admission, making this a truly global celebration. With just half a year left before the start, bookmakers currently favour Spain to lift the trophy in North America. You can read our detailed breakdown of the 2026 World Cup top favourites.

The final UFC pay-per-view of 2025 takes place on 6 December at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main event will be a highly anticipated rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan for the bantamweight title. Dvalishvili, who won their first bout in 2023 by unanimous decision, could make history by defending his belt four times in a single year. He's currently priced at 1.25 by bookies to win the fight.

The co-main event features flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja against rising contender Joshua Van. With big names like Jan Błachowicz, Henry Cejudo, and Brandon Moreno also on the card, UFC 323 promises to deliver a thrilling end to the year's fight calendar.

💀📊 Just a reminder that Merab Dvalishvili shot 49 takedowns attempts on Petr Yan.

Merab was just unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/rCmJpnoSww

— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) October 14, 2025

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will once again close out the Formula 1 calendar, taking place from 5 to 7 December at the Yas Marina Circuit. Teams often bring upgraded setups to end the season on a high note. That's why fans can expect intense on-track battles. Also, the event is famous for its day-to-night format, where the race starts in daylight and finishes under artificial lights.

While McLaren have already secured the Constructors' Championship, the Drivers' title fight remains open. Heading into the last two races, Lando Norris is the bookmakers' favourite to claim his first world title.

The 2025 9Club Snooker Shoot Out will take place from 10 to 13 December at the Tower Circus in Blackpool, England. This marks the 16th consecutive edition since its 2011 revival. This is one of the most unique ranking events on the World Snooker Tour, with 128 contenders playing a fast-paced single-frame format. Each match lasts just ten minutes and players literally have seconds to take their shots.

The lineup will feature both professionals and a group of WPBSA-nominated amateurs, including rising talents like the English U18 Champion, Vladislav Gradinari, and the Welsh U18 Champion, Riley Powell. The reigning champion, Tom Ford, is also returning after winning his first ranking title last year.

Every single shot of the maximum break from Shaun Murphy at the shoot out 😎#snooker #ilovesnooker @Magician147 pic.twitter.com/lFHR7FPoKs

— I ❤️ Snooker (@ILoveSnooker_) December 7, 2023

The Paddy Power World Championship will run from 11 December to 3 January at Alexandra Palace in London. It's the 33rd edition of the sport's biggest event, featuring a record 128 players competing for a total £5 million prize pool, with £1 million going to the winner.

The defending champion, Luke Littler, made history last year by becoming the youngest winner ever. Now, he's returning as the main favourite to defend his title. Organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, the tournament will be broadcast globally, ensuring fans worldwide can follow every set of the 20-day spectacle for the Sid Waddell Trophy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤-𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 🏆

Wayne Mardle’s epic entrance in 2008 🌴😂pic.twitter.com/dpTrQVOeq7

— Live Darts (@livedarts) December 12, 2023

The Scottish Open will take place from 15 to 21 December at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh. The tournament is part of the snooker BetVictor Home Nations Series, which also includes events in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Defending champion Lei Peifan shocked the snooker world last year by winning the title as world number 84. It's the lowest-ranked champion in over three decades. This year, he will be returning to defend his crown. The event features a £550,400 prize fund, with £100,000 for the winner.

A major heavyweight showdown between Jake Paul and former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua is set for December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The bout is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and will be broadcast worldwide on Netflix. Per the terms of the agreement, the fighters will use 10-ounce gloves, Joshua’s weight must not exceed 111 kg (245 lbs), and both competitors are expected to earn nearly $100 million each.

Joshua hasn’t fought since September 2024, when he suffered a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Paul, on the other hand, was nearing the end of his training camp for a matchup with Gervonta Davis but the latter ran into more legal trouble. Joshua enters this contest as the clear favorite, and we’ve already offered our prediction for this bout.

The 2025 BWF World Tour Finals will be held from 17 to 21 December at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in China, concluding the badminton season. Featuring the top eight-ranked players in men's and women's singles, the tournament will see the sport's best compete for a $2.5 million prize pool.

Among the headliners are An Se-young from South Korea and Wang Zhiyi from China in the women's field. At the same time, the men's draw includes the world's highest-ranked players fighting for year-end glory and crucial ranking points.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, marking the country's first home tournament since 1988. A total of 24 national teams will compete across nine venues in six cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh.

Defending champions Ivory Coast headline a strong field that also features continental powerhouses like Egypt, Nigeria, and Senegal. For the first time in history, AFCON will be held over the Christmas and New Year period, adding a festive twist. Morocco are currently the bookmakers' favourites to lift the trophy.

With AFCON coming, the amount of players some clubs will miss in January is wild! pic.twitter.com/jP17Hbmvt2

— PlayCope (@PlayCope) November 13, 2025

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship will take place from 26 December 2025 to 5 January 2026 in Minnesota, marking the 50th edition of the tournament. Games will be held at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis.

Ten national teams will compete for junior hockey's most prestigious title, with Team USA entering as the defending champions after winning back-to-back gold in 2024 and 2025. While there are no betting lines yet, the hosts most likely will be the top favourites to win the tournament. Traditional powerhouses like Canada, Sweden, and Finland also headline the field. Denmark has returned to the top division for the first time since 2019 and will do their best to avoid immediate relegation.

The 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is heading to the Twin Cities!

"We’re excited to bring this 50th anniversary edition of the World Juniors to the state of hockey. We know the teams and fans are in for a first-class experience at world-class venues." #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/u8cutDnhfl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 5, 2024

The 74th Four Hills Tournament will take place from 29 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 across Germany and Austria, with events in Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck, and Bischofshofen. One of ski jumping's most iconic series combines festive crowds and historic prestige.

Athletes will battle through four rounds, with the overall winner crowned by total points. Austria's Daniel Tschofenig, who triumphed in 2024-25, returns as the defending champion. Both he and his compatriot Jan Hoerl have the same chances to win the 2025-26 edition, according to bookies. The New Year's Day competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen remains the most anticipated highlight of the ski jumping calendar.

The flight of Daniel Tschofenig 🇦🇹 for the Golden Eagle 🦅🚀#fisskijumping #4hills pic.twitter.com/GS4CczVXhX

— Viessmann FIS Ski Jumping World Cup (@FISskijumping) January 6, 2025

Jeddah will once again host the Next Gen ATP Finals, showcasing the world's best 20-and-under singles players from the ATP Tour. The event runs from 17 to 21 December 2025 at King Abdullah Sports City, featuring a fast-paced format with shorter sets and no-ad scoring.

Now in its eighth edition, the tournament has a history of spotlighting future stars, with past champions including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and João Fonseca. The Brazilian returns to defend his title, while rising talents like Jakub Menšík and Learner Tien are set to challenge for the crown.

Throwback to 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals feat. Jannik Sinner. Watch till the end 😊 pic.twitter.com/EQaiX5kBZ4

— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) October 23, 2025

For sports fans with no big plans on New Year's Eve, the NBA regular season will offer plenty of entertainment, as the action continues without pause for celebrations. The league's schedule features several exciting matchups to close out 2025, with teams like the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder all taking the floor. It's the perfect way to enter the new year for anyone who prefers buzzer-beaters to fireworks.

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