European City of Sport 2026

On Your Marks! open weekend

Enjoy an open weekend of free sports activities at leisure and community venues on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February, kicking off Belfast’s year as European City of Sport 2026. 

This is an opportunity to try different sports, have fun and get involved. 

All events are free and suitable for all ages and abilities. 

Activities will include pickleball, fencing, family swim sessions, sensory swims, inclusive climbing, tennis, bike skills, martial arts taster sessions and loads more. 

European City of Sport 2026

Belfast has been named a European City of Sport for 2026.

This follows our bid submission, together with our leisure partners, GLL, in October 2025 and a visit by judges from ACES Europe to our city in November 2025 as part of their assessment.

ACES Europe award this accolade each year, recognising the best cities, towns and regions across Europe to take part in sport.

Our bid reflects ACES’ manifesto pledges – enjoyment in exercise, willingness to achieve, sense of community, learning to play and improvement in health – and focuses on five key themes:

• investment made into sport in Belfast over the last ten years
• support provided to elite athletes
• contribution of our leisure centre staff, local clubs, coaches and volunteers
• ensuring everyone feels welcome and included, and
• how sport is delivering better health outcomes for our residents.

2026 will see lots of great sports events delivered across the city, as well as more work to:

• promote use of our leisure centres
• showcase the variety of sports available in our city
• celebrate the contribution of sports clubs and athletes, and
• highlight how you can get involved.

Activities will include:

• the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon and other sports events
• our annual Belfast Primary Schools’ Cross Country Championships
• our try-it events in our community and leisure centres, and
• activities celebrating the contribution of athletes, coaches and volunteers.

We will add more details about our European City of Sport 2026 programme to this page, as details are confirmed.