This new year is filled with significant events, including the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the world’s largest sporting event, and an ambitious mission to the moon.
Discover the groundbreaking events set to shape 2026.
Milan Cortina Games
Prepare your skis, snowboards, and skates! The Winter Olympics and Paralympics are just around the corner.
Taking place from February 6th to 22nd in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the Olympics will showcase international winter sports stars competing for prestigious gold medals.
The opening ceremony will feature TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie and NBC Sports’ Terry Gannon, held at the iconic San Siro stadium in Milan. Highlighted events will include a parade of nations, lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a performance by Mariah Carey, and an appearance by Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino.
Team USA returns with proud cross-country skiers such as Jesse Diggins, para snowboarder Noah Elliott, freestyle skier Alex Hall, and snowboarder Chloe Kim, all former gold medalists.
The closing ceremony is set for February 22nd, and both ceremonies will be broadcast live on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.
Watch for the Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from March 6th to 14th, featuring six sports including para alpine skiing, para biathlon, and wheelchair curling.
Artemis II Launch
In 2026, NASA will make its grand return to the moon.
Scheduled to launch between February and April, the Artemis II mission will test NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft by sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon.
This marks the first crewed flight for the Artemis program, taking astronauts closer to the moon than ever in the past 50 years since the Apollo program concluded.
The mission is particularly critical, given discussions about the need for the U.S. to outpace China in lunar exploration.
A successful Artemis II flight could set the stage for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts at the moon’s south pole, reinforcing America’s leadership in space exploration.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Viva el fútbol!
The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup returns this summer, marking its 23rd edition with a record 48 competitor teams.
The opening match will take place on June 11th at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, with the final scheduled for July 19th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Over the span of a month, 104 matches will unfold, showcasing the strongest teams from around the globe.
The 16 host cities include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico, as well as major U.S. cities like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles.
This year, there will be an additional 16 teams competing compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Returning are heavyweights such as Argentina (three-time champions), Brazil (five-time champions), England, Germany, France, Spain, Uruguay, and the U.S., who seek their first championship title.
Several countries will be making their World Cup debuts including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
As of December, 42 teams have officially qualified, including Mexico, Canada, and several others from around the globe.
The remaining six teams will be determined by March, as they compete in playoffs.
America 250
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
This day symbolizes America’s emergence as an independent nation, embodying vital values of liberty and equality.
Events and initiatives in honor of this milestone are already underway, with many more planned throughout the year.
On New Year’s Day, America 250, a bipartisan initiative created by Congress in 2016, will unveil floats in the Pasadena Rose Parade. The theme is “Moving Forward Together for 250 Years.”
In January 2025, President Trump signed a presidential order to plan events commemorating the anniversary, including a major celebration that transformed the Washington Monument into the “World’s Tallest Birthday Candle.”
Freedom 250 has announced the Great American State Fair on the National Mall from June 25th to July 10th, featuring exhibits from all 50 states.
“This will be an unprecedented event that you’ll never see again,” stated Trump in a video address on December 18th.
The grand celebrations will culminate in a Fourth of July National Unity Celebration on the National Mall, featuring a military flyover, remarks from President Trump, and a spectacular fireworks display.
Additionally, new Patriot Games—a four-day athletic event showcasing top high school athletes from each state—will be held.
Memorial Day parades and a UFC event at the White House are scheduled for Flag Day, which also coincides with Trump’s birthday.
Plans are also in the works for an “Arc de Triomphe” in Washington, D.C., similar to the one in Paris.
Midterm Elections
The 2026 political landscape will be defined by battles for congressional control and crucial gubernatorial elections.
With Republicans holding a slight edge in the House, Democrats are striving to win three additional seats to reclaim leadership amidst ongoing redistricting challenges.
Key gubernatorial races will take place in battleground states including Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin, determining the future of national legislatures alongside major mayoral elections in cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
