2026 global events to watch out for: FIFA World Cup, air taxis, Artemis, celestial bodies, T20 Cricket World Cup

2026 promises to be a landmark year with massive sporting spectacles, historic space milestones, commercial air taxi services, elections, astronomical wonders, and cultural celebrations tied to the US Semiquintennial (250th anniversary of independence). Here's a month-by-month overview of the biggest anticipated events:

January

• Quadrantids Meteor Shower (peak January 3–4): One of the year's strongest showers, up to 120 meteors/hour under dark skies.

• Potential national elections or referendums in various countries (e.g., ongoing preparations in Portugal leading to its January vote).

February

• Winter Olympics (February 6–22, Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy): The world's premier winter sports event.

• Winter Paralympics follow in March.

• Super Bowl LX (February 8, Levi's Stadium, California, USA): NFL championship.

• Men's T20 Cricket World Cup (February 7–March 8, India & Sri Lanka).

• Artemis II Launch (target NET February 5, Kennedy Space Center, USA): NASA's first crewed lunar flyby since 1972, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

March

• Winter Paralympics (March 6–15, Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy).

• World Baseball Classic (March 5–17, USA, Puerto Rico, Japan).

• Total Lunar Eclipse (March 3): Visible in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas (Moon turns reddish "Blood Moon").

• FIFA World Cup European play-offs and intercontinental qualifiers wrap up.

April

• Potential Artemis II backup window if delayed from February.

• Various national elections (e.g., Slovenia, Hungary).

May

• Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower (peak May 5–6): Linked to Halley's Comet, best in Southern Hemisphere.

June

• FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19, co-hosted by USA, Canada, Mexico): Expanded to 48 teams; opening match in Mexico City, final Jul 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Expected to draw millions.

July

• FIFA World Cup continues (final July 19).

• MLB All-Star Game (Jul 14, Philadelphia, USA).

• Perseids Meteor Shower builds (peak in August; excellent conditions with no Moon interference).

August

• Total Solar Eclipse (August 12): Path of totality across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain — Europe's first mainland totality since 1999.

• Perseids Meteor Shower (peak August 12–13): One of the best annual showers, potentially spectacular under moonless skies.

September

• Potential national elections (e.g., Sweden).

October

• Various cultural festivals (e.g., potential Oktoberfest in Munich, though typically September–October).

• Diwali celebrations in India and diaspora communities (date varies; often late October/November).

November

• US Midterm Elections (November 3): All House seats and ~1/3 of Senate; major political shift possible.

• Leonids Meteor Shower (peak mid-November).

• Potential "Barangay" (translation: villages) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections in the Philippines (November 2).

December

• Geminids Meteor Shower (peak December 13–14): Often the year's strongest, up to 120 meteors/hour.

• Holiday festivals and end-of-year cultural events worldwide.