Whether you're tracking festivals around the world or hunting for a reason to use your annual leave, finally, this summer is stacked. From the biggest sporting event on the planet to a 60-year-old jazz festival on a Swiss lakeside, here are the 10 best summer world events in 2026 — and how to plan your trip.

June 11–July 19, USA, Canada, Mexico

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. It's the first edition with 48 teams, for a total of 104 matches. The opening match takes place in Mexico City, and the final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Tickets: FIFA uses dynamic pricing, so costs vary significantly by match, city, and demand. Group-stage tickets in lower-demand cities have started at around QAR 440 (USD 120) at face value via the official FIFA portal, though many matches are priced higher.

Flights from Doha: Host cities are spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico — fly into New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Dallas (DFW), or whichever city your matches are in. Return fares vary by host city; as a benchmark, Doha–New York returns are currently around QAR 5,960 (USD 1,637.36).

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a USA tourist visa before you travel — our USA visa article explains the requirements, fees, and how to apply.

June 5–7, Monaco

The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix runs from June 5 to 7, 2026, with qualifying on Saturday, June 6, and the final race on Sunday, June 7. It's one of the most iconic dates in motorsport — run through the narrow streets of Monte Carlo since 1929.

Tickets: Grandstand tickets start from around QAR 170 (EUR 43) per day. Multi-day and hospitality packages start at significantly higher prices.

Flights from Doha: Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE) — roughly 6–7 hours direct flight. Return fares are currently around QAR 3,590 (EUR 915). The train from Nice to Monaco takes about 25 minutes.

Visas: Visa requirements vary by destination — our France visa article explains everything about required documents, fees, and how to apply.

June 13–14, France

The 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place June 10–14 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, with the race itself starting on June 13 and finishing June 14. Over 330,000 spectators attend throughout the race week, making it one of the most-attended motorsport events in the world.

Tickets: General admission from around QAR 100 (EUR 23) for a single day; full-week camping packages go up to QAR 1,600+ (EUR 400+).

Flights from Doha: Fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Return fares are currently around QAR 3,550. A direct TGV train from Paris to Le Mans takes around 1.5 hours.

Visas: Visa requirements vary by destination — our France visa article explains everything around required documents, fees, and how to apply.

June 12–July 5, England

The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup marks the tournament's 10th edition and the first with 12 teams. The tournament opens on June 12 with England vs Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in Birmingham, and concludes with the final on July 5 at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

Tickets: Match tickets start at around QAR 97 (GBP 20) for group-stage games. Finals tickets sell out fast, so don't forget to book yours.

Flights from Doha: Fly into London Heathrow (LHR). Return fares are currently around QAR 3,970 (GBP 873). Matches are spread across seven venues in England and Wales — check rail connections from London for your specific match city.

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling.

June 29–July 12, London

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships will be the 139th edition of the tournament, taking place from June 29 to July 12 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. It's the oldest Grand Slam in tennis and the only one played on grass.

Tickets: Wimbledon doesn't sell tickets through a standard booking system. The public ballot for Center Court and Court 1 seats closes months in advance — check Wimbledon for next year's ballot dates. On the day, the famous Wimbledon Queue at the grounds provides access to the outer courts and a limited number of show-court seats returned by debenture holders. Ground passes start from QAR 160 (GBP 33) in the early rounds. Official hospitality packages through Keith Prowse are almost entirely sold out for 2026, with the remaining debenture-only option starting from QAR 9,640 (GBP 1,995) per person, excluding VAT.

Flights from Doha: Direct to London Heathrow, approximately 7 hours. Return fares during the tournament period are currently around QAR 4,660 (GBP 1,025.20). The tournament grounds are about 30 minutes from the airport by tube or taxi.

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling. 

July 3–18, Switzerland

The 2026 Montreux Jazz Festival celebrates its 60th edition from July 3 to 18, returning to its iconic indoor venues — the Stravinski Auditorium and the Montreux Jazz Lab — after a two-year renovation. Despite its name, the lineup spans jazz, rock, pop, and electronic music. The 2026 lineup includes Sting, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Deep Purple, John Legend, PinkPantheress, and Tyla, among others.

Tickets: Individual concert tickets from around QAR 450 (CHF 97). Many outdoor and lakeside events are free.

Flights from Doha: Fly into Geneva (GVA) — roughly 7–8 hours. Return fares are currently around QAR 4,440 (CHF 1,110). Montreux is about 1 hour by train from Geneva.

Visas: Visa requirements vary by destination.

July 4–26, France & Spain

The 113th Tour de France runs from July 4 to July 26, starting in Barcelona before crossing into France. It finishes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris — a free spectator event on the final stage.

Tickets: Watching from roadside vantage points is free throughout the race. VIP grandstand areas at key stages can be booked via the official websites.

Flights from Doha: Fly directly into Barcelona (BCN) for the Grand Départ, or Paris (CDG) for the final stages. Return fares are currently around QAR 4,040 (EUR 1,030).

Visas: France and Spain are parts of the Schengen Area, so depending on your nationality, you may need a visa before traveling. 

August 7–31, Scotland

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from August 7 to 31, 2026 — 3 weeks of performances across comedy, theatre, music, and spoken word, with thousands of shows staged across the city. It's the world's largest arts festival by number of performances and a place where established names and rising talent meet. Popular comedians appearing in 2026 include Nish Kumar, known for his political stand-up, Ania Magliano, known for her sharp humor, and Paddy Young, one of the UK's emerging comedy voices.

Tickets: Free (pay what you want) to QAR 145+ (GBP 30+). Most shows fall between QAR 48 and 97 (GBP 10 and 20).

Flights from Doha: Fly directly into Edinburgh from Doha (approximately 8 hours). Fares are currently around QAR 5,180 (GBP 1,139.60). London Heathrow is also an option, with onward rail connections — about 4.5 hours north.

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling.

August 30–31, London

Europe's largest street festival takes place on the August bank holiday weekend across the streets of Notting Hill in West London. It celebrates Caribbean heritage through music, costume parades, and food, and draws over a million visitors across the two days.

Tickets: Free entry. No tickets required — turn up and join the crowds.

Flights from Doha: Direct to London Heathrow, approximately 7 hours. Return fares are currently around QAR 3,970 (GBP 873.40).

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling.

August 30–September 13, New York

The US Open is the last Grand Slam of the year and the event that closes out the summer on the biggest possible stage. Played under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, it's a two-week spectacle that draws the world's top players to Flushing Meadows — and the crowds to match.

Tickets: Individual session tickets for the 2026 US Open go on sale on May 28, 2026. For reference, 2025 face-value tickets started from around QAR 182 (USD 50) for early rounds — 2026 pricing is expected to follow a similar structure. 

Flights from Doha: Fly to New York JFK, with an approximate flight time of 14 hours. Return fares are currently around QAR 5,960 (USD 1,637.36). The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens is about 45 minutes from the airport.

Visas: Depending on your nationality, you may need a USA tourist visa before you travel — our article explains the latest requirements, fees, and how to apply.

Several events above are in Schengen Area countries (France, Monaco, Switzerland). If your passport requires a Schengen visa, apply at least 4–6 weeks before travel. As part of the application, you'll need to show proof of travel insurance covering at least QAR 128,000 (EUR 30,000) in medical expenses for the duration of your trip. 

QIC's Fly Europe Plan covers medical treatment and emergency assistance in the Schengen area and other European destinations, with a coverage limit of QAR 182,000 (USD 50,000). 

💡How to file a QIC insurance claim for a medical treatment abroad

For the UK events on this list, a separate standard visitor visa applies. For North America, check the US and Canadian entry requirements against your passport.

Qatari nationals currently have visa-free access to the UK. Other passport holders should check the requirements against their nationality.