No matter how busy you are this holiday season – whether you’re an industrious elf, a roving reindeer, a certain North Pole postman, or just someone looking for a last-minute stocking-filler – we’ve got you covered with this quick-fire list of 10 fabulously festive sporting events!
FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) (13-18 December 2022), Swimming
Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre, Albert Park, Australia
While the northern hemisphere gets cosy for winter, the festive season Down Under brings blazing sunshine and all the joys of summer. Many of the finest swimmers in the world will get to enjoy the beautiful Aussie weather this year, as the short-course FINA World Swimming Championships come to Melbourne from 13-18 December. More than 700 athletes will represent 180 countries, and superstars like Adam Peaty, Emma McKeon, Kyle Chalmers, and David Popovici will take to the water in the hopes of adding to their substantial medal collections. Tickets are still available for spectators who want to soak-up the sun by the outdoor pool, with heat sessions starting at AUD $12 (USD $8) and finals sessions available from AUD $25 (USD $16).
World Darts Championship (15 December 2022 – 3 January 2023), Darts
Alexandra Palace, London, UK
Grab your eggnog and head to the oche – the World Darts Championship is the most festive event in the darting calendar! Held annually at the illustrious Alexandra Palace in London, this blockbuster tournament takes place across Christmas and New Year, lending some festive feel-good atmosphere to proceedings. That the World Darts Championship title is the most coveted in the sport means this event is also among the hardest-fought competitions out there, and its knock-out format means the stakes are high during every match. Single session tickets start at GBP £34, and there are plenty of resale tickets available from secondary sellers, too.
Gallagher Premiership Christmas Weekend Matches (23-27 December 2022), Rugby
Gtech Community Stadium, London, UK · Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle · Sandy Park, Exeter · Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester · Twickenham Stadium, London
It’s shaping-up to be another classic Gallagher Premiership season, with plenty of on-pitch drama keeping fans entertained every weekend. Come Christmastime, though, it won’t just be high-quality rugby union getting crowds going: Premiership clubs up and down England will be decking the halls, and putting on a yuletide show for fans young and old at their Christmas weekend match days. Adult match tickets start from GBP £15 at London Irish versus Saracens, from £22 at Newcastle Falcons versus Sale Sharks, from £25 at Leicester Tigers versus Gloucester, from £40 at Exeter Chiefs versus Bath, and from £35 at Harlequin’s “Big Game 14" against Bristol Bears, which will be held at the “Home of Rugby”, Twickenham Stadium.
Denver Nuggets v Phoenix Suns (25 December), Basketball
Ball Arena, Denver, USA
Watch 2 of the top teams in the Western Conference face-off as the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns collide at Ball Arena on Christmas Day. Both sides have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, respectively topping the Northwest Division and the Pacific Division after 20 games. Indeed, the Suns are bidding for the Pacific Division title for the 3rd season running, while the Nuggets lifted the Northwest title in 2019 and 2020, so it should make for a pulse-pounding contest! Official tickets start at USD $58, and a range of resale options are also available.
Miami Dolphins v Green Bay Packers (25 December 2022), American Football
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Festive celebrations can include a trip to the stadium for those NFL fans lucky enough to be spending the day in Miami, Glendale, or Los Angeles, with the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Rams taking-on Christmas hosting duties this year. Spectators in Florida might expect the most exciting of the 3 matchups when the Packers pay a visit to Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins are flying at the moment, sitting in 1st place in the AFC East and looking a safe bet for the playoffs, while the Packers have lost 4 of their last 5 games. Green Bay will have everything to prove, and fans can dream that legendary QB Aaron Rodgers will gift them a win in Miami. Tickets start at USD $197.
Arsenal v West Ham United (26 December), Football
Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Celebrate the return of domestic football after the FIFA World Cup with a traditional Premier League Boxing Day treat! After a fantastic start to the campaign, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side sit 5 points clear at the top of the table having racked up an impressive 12 wins from 14 games, catapulting them into an unlikely title charge. They’ll be taking-on West Ham United in a thrilling London derby. A paid membership will be required to purchase directly from the club, with official tickets starting at GBP £41.
WWE Live Holiday Tour: New York (26 December), Wrestling
Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
The Holiday Season is a magical time in the Big Apple: snow in Central Park, the shimmering Rockefeller Christmas tree…but it won’t just be Santa Claus coming to town in 2022. On 26 December, the stars of WWE are set to visit Madison Square Garden for a seasonal spectacular as part of the WWE Live Holiday Tour. Since hosting the first WrestleMania in 1985, the Garden has held a special place in the hearts of WWE fans, and a Christmas pilgrimage to MSG will be even more special for families whose love of wrestling has filtered down through the generations. With festive fun guaranteed for fans new and old, tickets for this event are available from around USD $30.
Christmas Festival (26-27 December), Horse Racing
Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames, UK
Kempton Park’s Christmas Festival is one of the biggest race meetings of the festive period. The 2-day fixture hosts some of the most important jump races of the year including the King George VI Chase, the Christmas Hurdle, and the Desert Orchid Chase. The King George VI Chase, first run in 1937 and named in honour of the new king, is regarded as the second most prestigious race in England - after the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Chase has been won by some huge names in the sport, including Desert Orchid who won it 4 times and Kauto Star who won it 5 times. Deserts, kings, and stars are ingredients for a Christmas to remember, especially with tickets starting at just GBP £20.
Australia v South Africa: Second Test (26–30 December), Cricket
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
When it comes to iconic festive sporting events, they don’t get much bigger than the annual Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. With a history stretching back as far as 1865, the Test regularly attracts over 70,000 fans to the MCG, and is known for its jolly atmosphere and Christmas cheer in the stands. While early editions of the Boxing Day Test featured domestic sides like Victoria and New South Wales, the Australian Men’s National Team has been the focus of the match for more than 70 years now. In 2022, Pat Cummins’ Baggy Greens will take-on South Africa in the Boxing Day Test between 26–30 December, with tickets starting from around AUD $30 (USD $20) for adults and AUD $10 (USD $6) for children.
NHL Winter Classic (2 January 2023), Ice Hockey
Fenway Park, Boston, USA
Take me out to the *puck* game! This season’s NHL Winter Classic will be at the iconic Fenway Park, home of the MLB’s Boston Red Sox and one of the most well-recognised sports venues in the world. It will take place on 2 January 2023, meaning it’s the first outdoor game of the regular season, and the perfect way to round-off the festive period. In 2022, the event saw the St. Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 6-4, and was notable for being the coldest outdoor game in NHL history with temperatures plummeting to -5.7 °F (-20.9 °C)! The 2023 edition promises to be a fierier affair, with the Boston Bruins taking-on the Pittsburgh Penguins. You can witness a “classic” game at a famous venue from USD $399, including fees.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) (13-18 December 2022), Swimming
- World Darts Championship (15 December 2022 – 3 January 2023), Darts
- Gallagher Premiership Christmas Weekend Matches (23-27 December 2022), Rugby
- Denver Nuggets v Phoenix Suns (25 December), Basketball
- Miami Dolphins v Green Bay Packers (25 December 2022), American Football
- Arsenal v West Ham United (26 December), Football
- WWE Live Holiday Tour: New York (26 December), Wrestling
- Christmas Festival (26-27 December), Horse Racing
- Australia v South Africa: Second Test (26–30 December), Cricket
- NHL Winter Classic (2 January 2023), Ice Hockey