when are the special olympics
The Special Olympics features various regional, national, and international events throughout the year, with major games scheduled for 2026. Key upcoming events include the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games and the Unified Football World Cup in Paris.
Major 2026 Events
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will occur from June 20–26 in Minnesota's Twin Cities, uniting over 4,000 athletes from all 50 states across 19 sports at venues like the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine. This national celebration highlights inclusivity, drawing 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans.
Meanwhile, the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup takes place July 5–11 in Paris, France—the third edition with 24 teams (12 men's, 12 women's) of athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified partners.
Regional Highlights
Europe/Eurasia has a packed calendar too, per the 2026 sports schedule:
- European Football Week : May 23–30.
- Invitational T1 Rugby : May 28–31, Paris.
- European Open Swimming : September 10–14, Malta.
- Judo Open : September 23–26, Sarajevo.
Event| Dates| Location| Focus
---|---|---|---
USA Games 5| June 20–26, 2026| Minnesota, USA| 19 sports, national
Unified Football World Cup 1| July 5–11, 2026| Paris, France| Football
(soccer), Unified teams
European Football Week 3| May 23–30, 2026| Europe-wide| Football initiatives
Next World Games Context
Special Olympics World Games alternate summer/winter every two years; the last Summer Games were in 2023 (Berlin), so the next is slated for 2027—watch for announcements. Local events happen year-round via programs like Special Olympics New York or Minnesota.
TL;DR at Bottom: Biggest 2026 highlights are USA Games (June 20–26, Minnesota) and Paris Football Cup (July 5–11); check local chapters for nearby competitions.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.