Major sports events in October 2026

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: September 30, 2026, 11:00

There's plenty to look forward to in October, as every sports lover will find something to enjoy in the second month of autumn 2026. Kimi Antonelli is ready to celebrate his debut drivers' championship, and the Rugby League World Cup will be the center of attention for a month. UFC comes back to Abu Dhabi with two title fights, the NBA is back, while the UEFA Conference League and the World Series kick off.

October is a crucial month in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with three Grands Prix packed into four weeks. The month begins with the unusual Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at Sepang from October 2-4 after Bahrain's race was relocated. Singapore follows on October 9-11 before F1 heads to Austin for the United States Grand Prix on October 23-25. 

Sepang's long straights and fast corners should provide a very different challenge from Singapore's demanding street circuit, where heat, humidity and concentration are major factors. Austin then brings the championship back to the Circuit of the Americas, one of the calendar's most popular venues. There's little intrigue left in both championships, yet we still can expect plenty of drama and surprises in all three events.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup gets underway on October 15 in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, bringing together the men's, women's and wheelchair competitions. The men's tournament begins with a blockbuster clash between defending champions and top contenders, Australia and New Zealand, at Sydney's Allianz Stadium. 

Ten nations will compete in the men's event, with Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea among the leading names. England face Tonga in Perth on October 17 before meeting France and Papua New Guinea later in the group stage. The tournament features a new format, with Group A containing Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands, while England, Samoa and Lebanon form Group B and Tonga, PNG and France make up Group C. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 7-8, with the men's and women's finals at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on November 15.

The 2026/27 UEFA Conference League league phase kicks off on October 15, bringing together 36 clubs from across Europe for the third season under the competition's new league-phase format. Among the biggest names involved are Atalanta, Ajax, Monaco, Freiburg, Braga, Brighton, Panathinaikos and Getafe, while traditional European clubs such as Crvena Zvezda and Trabzonspor add further intrigue.

Each team will play six different opponents, with 18 matches taking place on every matchday. The opening round includes several eye-catching fixtures, including Hajduk Split against Ajax and Brighton versus Kauno Žalgiris. The league phase continues through December 17, with the knockout stages beginning in February. The final will be played at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul on June 2, 2027, giving clubs a long-term target as the European campaign gets underway.

The 2026/27 NBA season tips off on October 20, launching another marathon campaign featuring 30 teams, established superstars and a new generation of talent. Opening night has an especially strong lineup: Boston visits Detroit, the defending champions New York Knicks host Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City travels to San Antonio in a rematch of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

The following night brings several intriguing storylines, including Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami debut against Minnesota and a California showdown between Stephen Curry's Warriors and Luka Dončić's Lakers. The Knicks enter the season as the fourth favourites, at 10.00, while Oklahoma City are the team to beat, according to the bookies. October will also introduce the fourth edition of the Emirates NBA Cup, with group play beginning on October 30.

The 2026 World Series takes center stage in the second half of October, with Major League Baseball's championship series scheduled to begin on October 23. The best-of-seven series will determine the next World Series champion, with Game 1 and Game 2 scheduled for October 23 and 24 before the series moves into its middle games on October 26-28. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be played on October 30 and 31.

Before the Fall Classic begins, the American League and National League Championship Series will determine which two teams reach baseball's biggest stage, with those series starting on October 11. The World Series should provide plenty of individual storylines, from starting pitchers and dominant bullpens to the power hitters capable of changing a game with one swing. The Los Angeles Dodgers are eager to become champions for the third time in a row, and there's no surprise that they are the top favourites ahead of the playoffs, sitting at 3.10.

UFC 333 headlines the MMA calendar on October 24 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with two championship fights scheduled for the main card. After an awful UFC 332, this one is really good. The featherweight title is on the line as Alexander Volkanovski faces Movsar Evloev, while Petr Yan takes on Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight championship bout. Volkanovski vs Evloev is particularly intriguing because it pits the veteran champion against an undefeated challenger whose grappling presents a major stylistic test.

The bantamweight title fight is a trilogy, as Yan initially lost to Dvalishvili, but later took the belt away from the Georgian in confident fashion. Dvalishvili's relentless wrestling and pressure have made him one of the division's toughest opponents, while Yan is arguably the most technical striker in the promotion. Other notable names on the card include Alexander Volkov, Dominick Reyes, Ramazan Temirov and Grant Dawson.

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