Dubai to host World Sports Summit in December 2026

Dubai will host the second edition of the World Sports Summit from 28 to 29 December 2026, under the theme ‘Uniting the World Through Sport’. 

Hosted by the Dubai Sports Council, the annual event is expected to be the largest edition to date, bringing together global sports leaders, decision-makers and athletes to explore collaboration and new opportunities across the industry.

The programme will include the announcement of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award winners, alongside discussions on emerging trends shaping the future of sport, including artificial intelligence and talent development.

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The 2026 edition builds on the success of the inaugural summit, which featured more than 1,500 athletes and sports officials, including tennis star Novak Djokovic, mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. The first edition generated nearly 34 million livestream views and more than 850 million digital interactions across social platforms.

The inaugural summit resulted in several partnerships, including a five-year agreement with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to launch a biennial Beach Volleyball World Championship series in Dubai. The organisation also collaborated with FIFA on the launch of an international awards ceremony to be hosted in the emirate.

The move comes as sports tourism continues to gain momentum, accounting for 10% of global tourism spend and growing by 17.5% annually, according to UN Tourism. Regional popularity is also on the rise, with a 2025 survey by Hyatt showing that nearly 50% of UAE travellers would plan holidays around sporting events.

For more information, visit worldsportssummit.org