October 2026 Sports Preview
September ushered in the new season of Spring as well as new seasons for many of the world’s biggest sports leagues. As the temperature rises in Mzansi, so does the number of October sports fixtures taking place throughout the month. Sport enthusiasts can look forward to football, rugby, Formula 1, cricket, golf and NFL action.
Before we dive into the upcoming October 2026 Sports Preview, however, let’s have a quick look at what took place in September.
South Africa’s biggest sports contest in September was the Greatest Rivalry Tour, and it certainly did not disappoint. The Springboks emerged victorious, winning the series 3-1. The Proteas also proved their strength in Southern African cricket when they beat Namibia and Zimbabwe in the cricket series held in Windhoek. The men in green and gold also went on to win three ODIs against Namibia.
Check out our September Sports Preview to catch up on what took place during the month if you missed any of the action. Now, here are some of the biggest sports tournaments and events in this sports preview taking place in October 2026.
Springboks
September was a massive month for the Springboks. The Boks played three matches, with only one of them taking place in South Africa.
The first of their September fixtures was the third match of the Greatest Rivalry Series. The match took place at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on the 5th. It was a close encounter, but the Bokke came out on top with a 29-24 victory.
The fourth and final match of the series then took place in Baltimore on the 12th. South Africa secured the series 3-1 after winning the match 43-28.
The third Test was a one-off match between South Africa and Australia in Perth. Australia managed to edge the Springboks 42-38 in another closely fought encounter.
The Springboks do not play any matches in October. Instead, the team will focus on preparing for the remaining fixtures taking place in November.
Cheslin Kolbe broke his jaw during the Greatest Rivalry Series and missed the Australia Test. However, he should be back in action for the Nations Championship. The remaining Springbok fixtures in 2026 include Italy, Ireland and France, as well as the Nations Championship finals.
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Formula 1
Formula 1 is reaching fever pitch in October 2026 as the drivers enter the final stretch of the championship. September was packed with action, with three races taking place during the month.
20 year old Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the first two races, which moved him into the lead of the Drivers’ Standings with 302 points. The third race, however, went to his teammate George Russell, who currently sits second in the Drivers’ Standings with 236 points.
October features three races. First up is the Bahrain Grand Prix, which takes place in Singapore at the Sepang Circuit on 4 October. The second race takes place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on 11 October. Finally, the third Grand Prix will take place in America at the Circuit of the Americas on 25 October.
After October 2026, only five Grand Prix races will remain in the season which we will cover in the next sports preview. Antonelli is the favourite to win the championship, and just two more podium finishes could secure his 2026 title.
Soccer – South Africa
The Betway Premiership is now in full swing, with Matchday 5 taking place during the last week of September. However, the Premier Soccer League will take a short breather before fixtures resume on 16 October.
Mamelodi Sundowns currently sit at the top of the league table, with Orlando Pirates just one point behind. Sundowns have 19 points on the log. AmaZulu are currently third, while Kaizer Chiefs sit in fourth.
Meanwhile, newcomers Milford FC have been one of the biggest surprises so far. The club currently sits in fifth place on the log during its first Division One league season.
October has two matches that South African soccer fans will not want to miss. First up is the MTN8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates on 10 October. The venue still needs to be confirmed, although the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban is widely expected to host the match.
Then, on 31 October, the Soweto Derby takes centre stage at FNB Stadium.
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Football – Europe
The European football calendar has been nonstop since the 2026/27 season kicked off. The transfer window closed on 1 September, with Bradley Barcola reportedly becoming the most expensive transfer after Liverpool paid approximately £123 million for the player.
Meanwhile, news out of the English Premier League has rocked UK football after Manchester City was found guilty of breaching the league’s financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. The punishment has not yet been announced, but the club could face sanctions.
On the pitch, Manchester City currently sits at the top of the EPL table with a 3 point lead over Arsenal, who have 12 points.
There are also several big Premier League fixtures coming up in October. Manchester City face Liverpool on 11 October, while Arsenal take on Leeds on 10 October. Chelsea and Manchester City then meet on 31 October in another major matchup.
UEFA’s Matchday 2 of 8 takes place between 13 and 14 October, with a total of 18 matches scheduled. The clash between PSG and Manchester City is one of the most exciting fixtures in the second round.
Proteas Men
The Proteas cricket matches are heating up just in time for summer. South Africa have already started their 2026 campaign with a win in a one-off T20 series involving neighbouring countries Zimbabwe and Namibia, which took place in Windhoek.
That was followed by three ODIs against Namibia, with the Proteas winning all three matches.
The Aussies have now arrived in South Africa for a tour consisting of three ODIs and three Test matches. South Africa won the ODI series, which should give the team plenty of confidence heading into the Test matches.
The first Test takes place on 9 October, followed by the second Test on 18 October. The final Test is scheduled for 27 October.
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Proteas Women
The Proteas Women have had a busy schedule so far in 2026. They reached the final of the T20 World Cup, where they unfortunately lost to England at The Oval in London.
Thereafter, they played a five match T20 series against Zimbabwe and managed to win every match.
The Proteas Women Fixtures now get a bit of a break from international cricket. Their next international fixtures will take place in December, starting with a Test match against India on 9 December. This October 2026 sports preview is filled with exciting sports!
DP World Tour
The DP World Tour continues in October 2026 as the players battle their way towards the DP World Championship, which starts on 12 November.
There will be four DP World Tour competitions taking place during October. First up is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in Scotland, with the tournament getting underway on 1 October.
The golfers then pack their bags and head to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid for the Open de España on 8 October.
Next up is the World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on 15 October. Finally, the tour heads to South Korea for the Genesis Championship at Woo Jeong Hills CC in Cheonan.
South Africa currently has three players in the top 10 on the Road to Dubai. South African Casey Jarvis sits in fourth place. He is followed by fellow South Africans Jayden Trey Schaper in sixth and Shaun Patrick Norris in 10th.
With the Road to Dubai reaching its final stages, all three South Africans will be looking to finish the season strongly before the DP World Championship begins on 12 November.
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NFL International Games
The NFL International Games have been a feature in certain countries since 2007. However, the NFL has recently expanded its international programme, with games now being played across four continents.
Several international fixtures will take place during October:
- The London Games 2026
- Indianapolis Colts vs Washington Commanders
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 4 October
- Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – 11 October
- Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Wembley Stadium – 18 October
The NFL Paris Game 2026 will then see the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on 25 October.
The international action continues into November, with the final match taking place on 22 November.
Must Watch Sport in October
October 2026 as we can see in this sports preview, promises to be an exciting month for sports fans worldwide. There are plenty of major fixtures and tournaments to keep an eye on, but some matches will stand out in particular.
The MTN8 final and Soweto Derby are two matches that South African soccer fans will not want to miss. The Proteas have also been in great form, which should make their Test matches against Australia interesting viewing throughout the month.
Formula 1 will also provide plenty of excitement as the championship enters its final stages. Meanwhile, rugby fans will have to wait until November for the Springboks to return to action.
With football, cricket, golf, Formula 1 and NFL action all taking place, October has something for sports fans across Mzansi and around the world.
FAQ
Cricket, golf, football, Formula 1, rugby and NFL are among the biggest sporting events taking place during October 2026.
The 2026 NFL London Games take place on 4, 11 and 18 October.
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will play in the MTN8 final.
Yes. South Africa has several players competing on the DP World Tour, with Casey Jarvis, Jayden Trey Schaper and Shaun Patrick Norris among the notable contenders.