SportAccord has announced the opening of registration for its 2026 edition, which will take place in Baku (Azerbaijan). Delegates attending the IF Forum 2025 were given an initial overview of the convention, offering a first look at an event that will once again bring together key figures from the international sports ecosystem.
Baku has strengthened its status as a global sports centre, having previously hosted the European Games, Formula 1 Grand Prix races, UEFA competitions and multiple World and European Championships. The Baku Convention Center will serve as the main venue for the 2026 convention, while the Heydar Aliyev Center will host the Opening Ceremony. Delegates will be accommodated across several hotels, including the JW Marriott Absheron Baku, The Ritz-Carlton, Baku, Hilton Baku and Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard.
The edition initially planned for 2025 in Istanbul (Türkiye), scheduled from 9 to 12 June, was cancelled by SportAccord, which stated that “several core conditions could not be met” following political changes in the host city. The cancellation reshaped the sector’s annual calendar, as the convention typically gathers more than 1,700 representatives from international federations, host cities and organisations linked to the global sports industry.
Impact on scheduling and transition to 2026
The agreement for Baku to host the 2026 edition was signed by SportAccord, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, and the local operating entity. The objective is to restore the expected institutional rhythm, building on the country’s proven experience in staging major international sporting events and its designation as the “World Capital of Sport 2026” by ACES Europe.
Registration is set to open next week. Organisers have confirmed that the convention will be centred around Baku’s waterfront area, supported by an operational layout designed to facilitate meetings between international federations, bidding cities and organisations across the sports sector.
With this announcement, SportAccord initiates the operational phase for its 2026 edition, marking the next step in the institutional agenda of global sport.
