Europe as a continent is a dream for sports enthusiasts. It boasts steep slopes, vast bodies of water and mountain passes that have inspired some of the most challenging sporting events known to man. Its countries also happen to produce exceptional athletes who continually baffle us with their incredible skill and talent. While it’s all good and well to watch iconic sporting events on the telly, nothing quite beats the thrill of being there in the flesh. Expat Explore has compiled this list of the 2025 bucket list sporting events that make people flock from all over the world to Europe and the United Kingdom.
Take a look at the world’s top bucket list sporting events of 2025:
The Championships, Wimbledon: London & the world’s oldest tennis tournament
30 June – 13 July 2025
The Championships, Wimbledon, most commonly referred to simply as ‘Wimbledon’, has been held on the outdoor grass courts of the All England Club in Wimbledon since 1877. It’s rated as one of the most prestigious tennis events the world over. This premier Grand Slam tournament takes place over the course of two weeks in early July. It draws visitors from far and wide who come dressed to the nines to watch the main, junior, wheelchair, qualifying and invitation events. Plus, it’s an opportunity to rub shoulders with the who’s who of UK royalty and celebrities.
Related: Continue your royal time with these top places to visit in London!
IAAF World Championships – Tokyo, Japan
13 – 21 September 2025
The IAAF World Championships, also called the World Championships in Athletics, is an athletics event by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and takes place once every two years. This year, Tokyo will host the event at the Olympic Stadium. Visitors can look forward to an enormous selection of track and field events. These showcase the talents of some of the world’s foremost athletes – riveting, to say the least!
London Marathon: The UK’s foremost long-distance running event
27 April 2025
The TCS London Marathon is a very popular long-distance running event. It takes place in London each year and forms part of the World Marathon Majors. This means it is on the bucket list of just about every serious runner out there. The marathon route is an almost entirely flat course that loops around the River Thames. It spans just over 42 kilometres (26 miles) and has three different starting points that converge after the first 4.5km (2.8 miles). The London Marathon also attracts thousands of spectators who come to cheer on the runners. If your interest in the event is more along this vein, here is some great advice about the best locations to watch from, etc.
Monaco Grand Prix: The world’s most glamorous F1 event
3 – 4 May 2025
Raced on the winding, cobbled streets of Monaco off the coast of France, the Monaco Grand Prix is not your average car race. This prestigious circuit is frequented by the who’s who in the automotive industry. It also happens to be one of the most demanding F1 tracks in the world, despite the low average speeds. The many elevation changes and tight turns mean it’s one of the most dangerous places to race, making for nail-biting viewing. There are tickets available to view the spectacle from a variety of glamorous locations throughout the city. Even a yacht if your budget allows!
Palio di Siena – Siena, Italy
2 July + 16 August 2025
The Palio di Siena is an epic biannual event that has been taking place in Siena since 1644. In essence, it boils down to a 90-second horse race in which ten horses and bare-back riders challenge each other to three laps around the Piazza del Campo. But it’s actually so much more than that – it’s a civic institution. The ten horses and riders each represent a Sienese contrade, or ward. There are 17 contrades in total. Lots are drawn to see which wards compete in this historical spectacle each year. Visitors can look forward to plenty of colourful decorations and (mostly) friendly rivalry as the contrades dress up their neighbourhoods to support their challenger, and a boisterous carnival atmosphere permeates the streets – lots of fun!
Related: Saddle up for a true Italian experience with one of our tours to Italy.
Tour de France – France
5 – 27 July 2025
The Tour de France is an epic, annual multiple-stage bicycle race that takes place throughout France, but also occasionally segues into nearby countries, and has been a proud French institution since 1903. This year’s challenging route kicks off in Lille and finishes in Paris at the Champs-Élysées after 21 gruelling stages. The 2025 route climbs and summits in the Massif Central, the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Jura. In short – there are plenty of beautiful areas in which to cheer on the Tour de France racers this year. Just check the schedule ahead of time and coincide a leg of your European trip to meet up with a route touchpoint.
2026 FIFA World Cup™
11 – 19 July 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ tournament is the world’s most-watched bucket list sporting event. Held once every four years, the tournament features the talents of the senior men’s national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The upcoming tournament will be the first-ever hosted by three countries, Canada, the USA and Mexico, and will also be the first edition to feature 48 teams. If you’re a soccer fan, seeing at least one 2026 FIFA World Cup™ match should be at the top of your bucket list – the sheer electricity and spirit of the crowds alone are enough to give you goosebumps, and then there’s the incredible soccer, of course!
Here’s to a year jam-packed with iconic European sporting events! Discover our Europe multi-country tours and keep your eye on the blog for more annual event inspiration to motivate your next travel adventure.