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You’ve heard of eco-tourism and adventure tourism, but have you heard of sports tourism? 'Sports tripping' is the latest travel trend that has fans packing their suitcases for Grand Slam tennis tournaments or Premier League football matches, then building a holiday around the big event.
According to new research by luggage storage network Stasher, sports tourism now accounts for around 10 per cent of global travel spending, with nearly one-third of people having travelled – or considering travel – overseas for a major sporting event.
To uncover the world’s best destinations for sports-loving travellers in 2026, Stasher analysed 50 global cities. Rankings were based on factors including major sporting events hosted in 2025-2026, the number of professional sports teams, sports bars and sport-related attractions, as well as costs like food, drink, local transport, tourist safety and more.
So, who topped the leaderboard? London claimed the number one spot as the world's best city for sports tourism, thanks to it being a major sporting hub for tennis (strawbs and cream at Wimbledon, anyone?), football, rugby and cricket – with excellent sports-related attractions and iconic stadiums. Coming in at number two is Dubai, a rising sporting powerhouse that hosts major international golf tournaments and horse racing, backed by world-class stadiums (not to mention its luxe lifestyle). Rounding out the top three is Tokyo, a value-for-money sports capital with a packed calendar, including the World Baseball Classic, the World Athletics Championships, judo, sumo wrestling and major motorsport events.
Coming in fourth globally, Melbourne proves why it proudly calls itself Australia’s sporting capital. The city’s sports calendar is packed – from centre-court action at Rod Laver Arena for the Australian Open and the roar of engines at the Australian Grand Prix to the electric atmosphere of the AFL Grand Final. With iconic venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Melbourne Park within easy reach of the city centre and hundreds of lively bars where fans gather before and after the action, Melbourne is just the (plane) ticket for sports and sightseeing.
Melbourne wasn't the only Australian city to crack the top ten, with surprise contender, Adelaide, ranked joint sixth alongside Berlin. Anchored by the spectacular Adelaide Oval, the city is emerging as one of the country’s most exciting sporting destinations, with a growing roster of major events – from the hugely popular AFL Gather Round to the high-profile LIV Golf Adelaide. Looking ahead, Adelaide will also host the MotoGP on a new street circuit from 2027 and is even bidding to host the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2028 (yep, Adelaide has snatched both these events from Melbourne). This once-quiet contender is rapidly becoming a winner in the global sports tourism arena.
The top 10 destinations for sports tourism
1. London
2. Dubai
3. Tokyo
4. Melbourne
5. Dublin
=6. Adelaide
=6. Berlin
=8. Paris
=8. Houston
=8. Belgrade