From international football tournaments and cycling races to iconic music festivals and cultural celebrations, sporting events Europe offers something for every interest. Planning your trip around these events allows you to experience destinations at their most vibrant.
If you’re heading to a music festival, a cultural event, or one of many sports events in Europe, P&O Ferries makes getting there easy. Take your car (or bike) on our ferries to France and ferries to Holland to make travelling to the event a breeze.
Explore some of the best events in Europe with P&O Ferries by booking directly to get the best prices!
What are the best events in Europe to attend? Perhaps one of the best festivals in Europe, Oktoberfest, takes over Munich in Germany every September and October. It’s the world’s largest Volkfest, with music, dancing, bratwursts, and, of course, barrels of Bavarian beer.
If music is your thing, attend one of the best music festivals in Europe. Top music festivals in France include uber-cool Rock en Seine in Paris, the huge Les Vieilles Charrues in Carhaix, and the family-friendly Pete the Monkey Festival in Normandy. Other bucket-list music festivals in Europe include Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Tremor Azores in Portugal, and one of the most famous festivals in Belgium, Tomorrowland.
There are some unmissable festivals in France, like Mardi Gras in Nice, the Cannes Film Festival, Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on 14 July, and the oldest Christmas market in Europe, Strasbourg.
If you’re looking for festivals in the Netherlands, top picks include the Rotterdam Summer Carnival, the dazzling Amsterdam Light Festival in December and January, and the picture-perfect Netherlands Tulip Festival in Flevoland every spring.
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Are you an avid sports fan? Get your live sports fix at one of the many sports events in Europe, including football, rugby, and Formula 1.
If you’re a fan of the beautiful game, one of the major sporting events in France this year is the UEFA European Championship or the Euros. For F1 fans, there are plenty of sporting events in Europe to see the action up close. Major races include the Italian Grand Prix, the Belgium Grand Prix, and the biggest one of the year, the Monaco Grand Prix.
If rugby is your sport of choice, the Six Nations takes place every year throughout February and March, in stadiums across Europe. You can catch a game in France at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu, or the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq.
Other sporting events in France include the Tour de France in June and July, the most prestigious cycling race in the world, and the French Open in May, one of the four renowned Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
Planning a winter sports holiday instead? Why not coincide your trip with the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, held every year in destinations in Europe?
So, what are the unmissable sporting events in Europe this year? From major football championships and international tournaments to cycling races and global sporting competitions, 2026 offers a packed calendar of sporting events across the continent.
With events spread across multiple countries, many travellers choose to plan road trips or short breaks around key fixtures. Combining sporting events in Europe with local festivals in Europe is a great way to experience both live sport and regional culture in one trip.
The 2026 UEFA Champions League final will be the culmination of the 2025–26 season of Europe’s premier club football competition. It is scheduled to take place at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on 30 May 2026.
Are you a tennis fan who can’t wait for Wimbledon? The French Open, also called Roland Garros, is one of the most exciting times of the year to be in France. Starting 20th May, the French Open is set to display some world class clay court tennis, that will be sure to have a few surprises in store. With WTA and ATP players all coming together to battle it out for a sensational 2-week tournament. Did you know, Stade Roland Garros is just over a 3 hour drive from the port of Calais? Find out more.
The Tour de France 2026 and its female counterpart, the Tour de France Femmes 2026, are set to be among the most highly anticipated sporting events in the cycling calendar. The men’s race is expected to take place in July 2026, bringing together the world’s top riders as they compete across a demanding route featuring a mix of flat stages, challenging climbs, and dramatic mountain finishes. The exact route and start location are yet to be fully confirmed, but as always, the race will showcase some of the most iconic scenery in France.
Sporting and Events FAQs
Sporting events in Europe take place year-round, but spring and summer are especially popular thanks to major tournaments, cycling events and outdoor festivals. Planning ahead is recommended, as accommodation and travel can book up quickly around large events.
Yes, many travellers plan short breaks or road trips around sporting events in Europe. With events spread across countries such as France and Netherlands, it’s easy to combine live sport with sightseeing, food experiences and local festivals in one trip.