Summer of sport: What’s on this year and where to watch

Tuesday 25 June 2024 by Jonathan Victoria  Features

Some years can produce sad summer periods for sports fans as there isn’t as much to watch. You’re either a year away or a year removed from a World Cup or summer Olympic games, and everything else doesn’t always live up to the billing.

But thankfully, this year is not one of those years as there is an abundance of great sports to watch all summer long!

From the already underway Euro 2024 and cricket T20 World Cup to the upcoming Olympic Games, find out what’s on this summer and how you can watch it all.

On now

Some major tournaments are already underway, but don’t worry too much as there is still plenty to be played for each.

Euro 2024 | Until 14th July

The biggest European international competition is in full flow, having begun on Friday 18th June.

There is plenty to watch still, with the group stage currently the order of play followed by the single elimination knockout stages.

Favourites such as England, France and host Germany will all be looking for glory, and we as fans have much to enjoy with the tournament sure to provide many exciting moments until the final comes around on 14th July.

You can watch all the action from the tournament live every day on ITV and BBC. Find out more information on the tournament in our guide: How to watch Euro 2024.

Cricket T20 World Cup | Until 29th June

The cricket T20 World Cup is reaching its end, with the final coming this Saturday, 29th June. It has been running all throughout the month of June, and while the competition is coming towards its end, it's now where things are going to get really interesting.

The next round will see only four teams remaining, battling it out for a place in Saturday’s final. 

Defending champions England are already through, as are South Africa who finished ahead in the group. On the other side, it remains in the air or who will go through, although India looks likely to be advancing.

With the Semi-finals and final still yet to be played, you won’t want to miss the finale of what has been an excellent competition. You can also find more information about the tournament in our guide: How to watch 2024 Cricket T20 World Cup.

Coming up

Turning our attention to what is coming up and there is plenty to look forward to for the remainder of the summer.

From major tennis and golf tournaments to the biggest multi-sport showcase on earth, here are some of the biggest events taking place over the next three months.

Wimbledon | 1st – 14th July

As the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, the weight that Wimbledon holds on the ATP and WTA Tour calendar is immeasurable, and the fierce competition that stems from those fighting for the title makes the two weeks of action incredibly special.

With the old guard slowly trickling out and making way for the next generation of stellar talents, this year’s SW19 contest is sure to provide many unforgettable, history-making moments.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his third Grand Slam title at the French Open, will be defending his championship after beating arguably the greatest of all time, Novak Djokovic, last year.

On the women’s side, last year saw history made as Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win the singles title after beating Ons Jabeur in straight sets. Could there be more surprises in southwest London this year?

Make sure you tune in for the action, with all two weeks of the contest available live on BBC One, Two and iPlayer.

The Open Championship | 18th – 21st July

Staying in the UK but now switching sports to golf and heading north for another of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in its sport, the Open Championship is a special contest with great glory and honour for the victor.

This year being held at Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland, The Open, as it is more commonly known, tests the players to their upper limits, presenting a challenge unfamiliar to what is generally played on the PGA Tour in the US.

Last year’s champion Brian Harman prevailed through tough conditions to lift the coveted claret jug.

As for this year's contest, if the previous three majors are anything to go by, we’re in for a fantastic weekend with many of the top players in contention for the win.

Given that it’s the fourth and final major of the year, if you’re a golf fan, you won’t want to miss a single moment of the action. You’ll be able to catch it all live exclusively on Sky Sports, with daily highlights also being shown on BBC.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games | 26th July – 11th August

The greatest show on earth arrives in Paris this summer as the Olympic Games are set to provide two full weeks of incredible multi-sport action!

Be ready to witness the extraordinary as the world’s finest athletes descend upon France’s capital, ready to leave it all out there and claim one of the biggest prizes in all of sport, the gold medal.

Sports that you wouldn’t normally choose to watch suddenly become essential viewing as you flick through what’s on offer each day, becoming an expert in the field for the short runtime of the games.

With so much on offer during the entirety of the summer games, you’ll want to stay tuned in to Eurosport, where it all will be shown live in the UK, right from the opening ceremony to the closing one.

Women’s Open | 21st – 25th August

A month after the men's edition of the Open comes the women's turn, this time with the LPGA field showing up to the iconic St Andrews, the home of golf and a course that is on every golfer's bucket list.

Reigning champion Lilia Vu won last year at Walton Heath Golf Club after a sensational 10 under combined on Saturday and Sunday.

Vu will be in the hunt again but many will be looking at current world number one Nelly Korda to pick up her second major title of the year - although she’ll have to find her form again before then after not making the cut for the last two majors.

Find out how Korda, Vu and the rest of the competition fare out on the Old Course live exclusively on Sky Sports.

US Open | 26th August – 8th September

Back to tennis action as the final Grand Slam of the year sees the tours head stateside to New York City for the US Open.

The outdoor hard court contest takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with the final held at the largest tennis stadium in the world, the 23,200-capacity Arthur Ashe Stadium.

With Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff looking to defend their singles titles and the whole field behind them aiming to take them down, it is sure to be a competition you won’t want to miss.

You’ll need a Sky Sports subscription to be able to watch all games live this year and in the future after Sky’s new five-year deal with the ATP and WTA, so be sure to get yours now to tune in for the big event as well as all competitions in the lead up to it.

Paralympic Games | 28th August – 8th September

Disabilities be damned! The Paralympic Games follow shortly after the summer games, showcasing extraordinary feats of resilience, skill and spirit of the best-disabled athletes from around the world.

Athletes from around the globe will converge to shatter records and exceed expectations, proving that anything is possible when determination meets passion. 

Don't miss this incredible celebration of extraordinary abilities and heart-stopping competition! It will all be live on Channel 4, on TV and on Channel 4 streaming.

Solheim Cup | 10th – 15th September

The women’s version of the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup is the biggest team contest on the LPGA and LET calendar.

Europe vs USA is an age-old battle in golf. In the Solheim Cup, the USA has the upper hand with 10 wins to Europe’s eight, although it is the Europeans who have won the last three contests, last retaining their title in 2023 with a 14-14 draw at Finca Cortesin in Malaga, Spain.

This year's contest takes place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, USA, giving the hosts a boost in ending Europe’s winning streak. And with the likes of Korda and Vu both performing strongly this year, the odds will be in their favour.

Coverage of the event will be available on Sky Sports for the full contest.

How to watch

All these events will be must-watch TV for the entirety of the summer, so be sure you get yourself the necessary subscriptions so you don’t miss a moment of the action.

Sky Sports

Sky Sports has a good hold on many exclusive sports, including PGA and LPGA Tour golf, ATP and WTA tennis, Formula 1, International cricket and more, plus sports that aren’t exclusive but can be found on their channels, most notably Premier League football, which will be returning over the summer as well on 16th August.

Sky Sports is available on TV as well as on various devices to be streamed via the Sky Sports app.

You can purchase Sky Sports in a number of ways and with several providers. Here’s how you can get your subscription:

Sky Sports on Sky

Whether you’re an existing customer or a new one, Sky Sports on Sky is available either via a package deal or as an add-on to your current or chosen TV package.

If you’re not looking for a committed option, you can opt for the 30-day rolling contract add-on, which for £27* a month allows you to cancel anytime you want (30 days' notice required). Also available as an add-on is the 24-month contract, which will cost you £20 a month.

Otherwise, you have plenty of options to choose from, including some brilliant Sky Sports package deals that have Sky Sports included in them. 

Sky Sports on NOW

NOW TV offers Sky subscriptions that allow you to watch Sky Sports, Sky Cinema or Sky Entertainment, depending on which subscription you choose, and they all come with zero commitment options, meaning you can choose to not go for a contract.

You can choose the NOW Sports Membership on their no-contract options either with a one-day membership or flexible month membership. Alternatively, if you do want the commitment and want to spend a bit less, the 6-month saver membership is the choice for you.

Sky Sports on BT

You can get Sky Sports even if you’re a BT customer, with the provider offering a NOW Sports Subscription either as part of a package deal or as an add-on.

The Big Sport + Fibre 2 deal is arguably your best option if you’re looking for TV and broadband, which will include TNT Sports as well as Sky Sports. Otherwise, you can add NOW Sports for an extra £34.99* a month on top of your chosen TV package.

Sky Sports on Virgin Media

Virgin Media offers Sky Sports and TNT Sports in many of their packages as well as add-ons for existing packages.

You can choose specific sports packages that are centred around Virgin Media TV, broadband and Sky Sports, or there are packages with everything included.

If you’re looking to add Sky Sports to your package, you can do so from £31.75* a month.

TNT Sports

TNT Sports rivals Sky Sports for offering fantastic sports exclusive to them, including Champions League football, UFC, WWE, MotoGP and lots more, plus some Premier League football.

Also included with TNT Sports is Eurosport, which is the home of the Olympics, so you’ll need a TNT Sports subscription to be able to watch all two weeks this summer. 

Discovery+ is also included with all BT packages, which will allow you to stream your chosen sport on various devices.

TNT Sports on BT

Similar to Sky Sports on Sky, TNT Sports is available either with applicable EE TV (formerly BT TV) or as an add-on.

The Sport + Fibre 2 package will bring you just TNT Sports (which does still include Eurosport), while Big Sport or Full Works + Fibre 2 will contain TNT and Sky Sports.

TNT Sports is available as an add-on for £20* a month on a 30-day rolling contract.

TNT Sports on Sky

TNT Sports can be included in some Sky package deals or you can add it on to your package with the 31-day rolling contract which will cost £28 a month*.

TNT Sports on Virgin Media

You can find TNT Sports on Virgin Media TV, although the channels are not available via any package. 

Most packages will have Sport Lite which contains Eurosport channels, but if you’re looking for TNT Sports channels, you’ll need to choose the 30-day rolling contract add-on, which comes at £18 a month.*

*All prices shown are correct as of the time of writing (25/06/2024).