New Sports Venues to Watch in 2026

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect new information.

This will be a bumper year for global sports events, with both the Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina and the FIFA World Cup in North America this summer. That will put a spotlight not just on athletes but on new and renovated venues, from Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena to the renovated Azteca (Banorte) Stadium in Mexico City.

But those aren’t the only facilities poised for a big year. More than a dozen multisport complexes across the world that will open in 2026, catering to sports ranging from baseball and basketball to football and volleyball.

Here’s an alphabetical look at some of the new venues that will make their mark across the global sporting landscape this year, according to the SportsTravel team.

 

Aramco Stadium

Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

OPENING: Late 2026

The 47,000-capacity Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, is set to be the first of a string of new state-of-the-art stadiums to be constructed and open ahead of what will be the country’s first men’s FIFA World Cup in 2034. In addition, the arena will become the new home of Saudi Pro League team Al Qadsiah, as well as host matches in next year’s 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Designed by Populous, the stadium’s design resembles the natural whirlpools of the Arabian Gulf on which the venue is located, and the 800,000 square-meter complex will feature community facilities, sports facilities, retail areas, entertainment zones and public spaces.

 

Azteca / Banorte Stadium

Mexico City, Mexico

OPENING: March 28

The renovated version of Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium (rebranded as Banorte Stadium) is expected to open with a friendly match between Mexico and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal less than three months before the start of the World Cup, for which it will host the opening match of the tournament between Mexico and South Africa. After two years of renovations to prepare for the showpiece, including modernizing the structures and meeting FIFA’s strict grading standards, the 83,000-capacity venue will host five 2026 FIFA World Cup games in all this summer. Despite repeated delays, organizers continue to insist that the venue is on course for the projected reopening date.

 

Bank Independent Stadium

 

Florence, Alabama

OPENING: September 19

A multi-purpose stadium complex by the University of North Alabama that is being constructed in Florence, Alabama, Bank Independent Stadium will consist of a separate football and baseball field and replace football’s Braly Stadium and baseball’s Mike D. Lane Field by the 2026-27 academic season. Managed and designed by Birmingham-based HPM and Davis Architects, the football field will be named Bobby Wallace Field and the new stadium will accommodate approximately 10,000 fans. The Lions’ first football game in their new home will come September 19 against Alcorn State.

 

Destination KP

Kings Park, New York

OPENING: Summer 2026

Located on Long Island, Destination KP in Kings Park is part of the SF Network. Envisioned as a multi-purpose sports campus, Destination KP brings upgraded fields, training spaces, and spectator amenities to a market hungry for tournament-quality youth sports facilities, while offering event owners an accessible location within reach of the greater New York metro area. As it ramps up operations, Destination KP will play a dual role — supporting weekend tournaments that drive hotel stays and restaurant traffic, and giving local families an elevated home field for their everyday sports experiences.

 

 

Miami Freedom Park

Miami, Florida

OPENING: April 4

The new home of Major League Soccer ‘s Inter Miami CF, which is part-owned by David Beckham, has been years in the making. The 131-acre venue will feature a 25,000-seat, $1 billion stadium and mixed-use development, comprising a public park, retail facilities, dining, hotels and a tech hub on the former Melreese Golf Course site. With construction nearing completion, the stadium is scheduled to open on April 4, when Lionel Messi and the reigning MLS Cup champions face off against Austin FC.

 

Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

Santa Giulia, Milano-Cortina, Italy

OPENING: February 2026

The only permanent venue that is being built for this year’s 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano-Cortina has come with plenty of challenges. Despite fears that the ice rink would not meet the standards for elite ice hockey players and a rush to complete the concourses in the arena, the venue recently completed an Olympic test event on January 9, although its intended capacity could still drop from 14,000-16,000 seats to under 12,000 due to last-minute work. Inside, the rink is surrounded by two tiers of seating while the exterior shape has been inspired by the city’s Colosseum. Also known as PalaItalia Santa Giulia, the ice hockey arena has been designed by David Chipperfield Architects and organizers remain confident that it will be ready to go for the Games, which begin on February 6.

 

New Ankara Stadium

Ankara, Türkiye

OPENING: Mid-to-late 2026

This 55,000-capacity UEFA Category IV (the highest level) venue will replace the old Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium, and is expected to be completed by mid-to-late 2026. Designed by Bahadır Kul Architects, much of the construction has focused on the roof and other complex features such as a museum, training facilities and event spaces which can be used all year round. The stadium will host matches within the Turkish Süper Lig (although no club team has yet been designated as primary tenant of the stadium), UEFA Europe League and UEFA Champions League, as well as games for the Turkish national soccer team. It will also serve as a host venue for EURO 2032.

 

New Fort Wayne FC Park

Fort Wayne, Indiana

OPENING: Spring 2026

Fort Wayne Football Club will soon have its own soccer-specific stadium. New Fort Wayne FC Park will feature a capacity of 9,200 for games and additional capacity for other events, making it the largest outdoor stadium in Northeast Indiana. The team, which currently competes in United Soccer League’s League Two will move to the professional ranks of USL League One this year to coincide with the opening of the new stadium. Located on the south side of Bass Road, adjacent to and west of I-69, the stadium’s initial renderings were made by Design Collaborative in partnership with developer BND Commercial.

 

New Highmark Stadium

Orchard Park, New York

OPENING: September 2026

Due to open in time for the 2026 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills are moving 100 yards from their current home venue to the New Highmark Stadium. Worth $2.1 billion and including $850 million from public funding, the 60,000-capacity stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York, has been designed by architectural firm Populous to create one of the most intimidating environments in the NFL with a 360-degree bowled canopy and stacked seating. Scheduled events are likely to be announced in the coming months.

 

New Ryan Field

Evanston, Illinois

OPENING: Fall 2026

Northwestern’s new Ryan Field, scheduled to open in fall 2026, is an $850 million development that will be home to the Northwestern Wildcats Football. Designed by HNTB and Perkins & Will, the stadium will have a reduced capacity of 35,000 — the smallest venue in the Big Ten Conference — and replaces the original 1926 facility. It will also feature a 360-degree canopy, year-round event spaces, four club areas and improved sightlines as part of an innovative fan-focused design.

 

One New Zealand Stadium (Te Kaha)

Canterbury, New Zealand

OPENING: April 2026

Described as the “premier and most accessible, inclusive, sustainable and flexible venue in Aotearoa, the One New Zealand Stadium is part of the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan that was drawn up by New Zealand’s government in 2012 — the year after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake caused widespread devastation and 185 deaths in Christchurch. The new 30,000-seat arena (25,000 permanent seats and 5,000 temporary ones, plus a capacity of 36,000 for large concerts) will be home to Super Rugby team The Crusaders, feature 23 corporate suites, a large function lounge and 23 food and beverage outlets, and host rugby union, soccer, rugby league, esports, motorsports, tennis and boxing competitions when completed.

 

Paducah Sports Park by CFSB

Paducah, Kentucky

OPENING: Summer 2026

Western Kentucky’s tournament footprint expands in March 2026 with the grand opening of Paducah Sports Park by CFSB, a sprawling diamond and long-field destination just off I-24. The complex is programmed with a deep inventory of baseball and softball diamonds—combining youth fields and championship-caliber stadium fields—alongside approximately 10 multipurpose long fields for soccer, football, and other field sports. Layer in walking trails, open green spaces, and family-friendly amenities, and Paducah Sports Park is positioned to host everything from high-impact tournament weekends to local league nights that keep the lights on and the community active all year long.

 

Sprowls Horizon Sports Park

Pinellas Park, Florida

OPENING: February 28

Opening in Pinellas Park, Florida, Sprowls Horizon Sports Park is a homerun for youth baseball and softball, featuring a lineup of Major League Spring Training replica fields that let young athletes play in environments modeled after the pros. The park’s grand opening festivities are slated for next month, with full Spring 2026 operations bringing in a first year fully booked with tournaments, showcases, and community events that energize the Tampa region’s already-strong sports scene. With professional-caliber playing surfaces, fan-friendly amenities, and a design focused on memorable tournament experiences, Sprowls should quickly become a go-to stop on the national baseball and softball circuit.

 

Talanta Sports City Stadium / Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium

Nairobi, Kenya

OPENING: March 2026

The Talanta Sports City Stadium, officially named Raila Amolo Odinga International Stadium after Kenya’s former prime minister, has been one of the largest stadium projects undertaken in Africa in the last four decades and serves as Kenya’s first purpose-built, international-standard facility. Slated to open in March with a capacity of 60,000, the venue in Nairobi is largely covered by a white steel mesh that is supported by a decorative façade with eight shields, designed to mirror the country’s flag. The new home of National Super League club FC Talanta is being delivered for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations — jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — and the final of the tournament.