The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, with the Opening Ceremony on July 14, 2028 and competition running through July 30. Most events take place across the LA region, but softball and canoe slalom move to Oklahoma City, and soccer matches start in six other US cities. The Paralympic Games follow from August 15 to August 27, 2028.
This will be the third Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, after 1932 and 1984. Below is where each sport lands, what is new on the program, and where ticket sales stand as of October 2026.
Key dates for LA28
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First Olympic soccer matches | July 10, 2028 |
| Olympic Opening Ceremony | July 14, 2028 |
| Men’s soccer final, Rose Bowl | July 28, 2028 |
| Women’s soccer final, Rose Bowl | July 29, 2028 |
| Olympic Closing Ceremony | July 30, 2028 |
| Paralympic Opening Ceremony | August 15, 2028 |
| Paralympic Closing Ceremony | August 27, 2028 |
The soccer tournament starts four days before the Opening Ceremony because it needs more match days than other sports. That is normal at the Olympics. Some Paralympic events, such as wheelchair rugby and boccia, also hold early non-medal rounds before their own ceremony.
Where the 2028 Olympics will be held: the main zones
LA28 has grouped its venues into zones across Southern California. A big part of the plan is that no new permanent stadiums are being built. Instead, the Games use existing arenas and stadiums, plus temporary venues. LA28 set out the current plan in its updated venue plan, approved in April 2025. Here are the ones most people ask about:
| Venue (Games name) | Area | Sports |
|---|---|---|
| LA Memorial Coliseum | Exposition Park | Athletics (track and field), Opening and Closing Ceremonies |
| 2028 Stadium (SoFi Stadium) | Inglewood | Swimming, Opening Ceremony |
| Intuit Dome | Inglewood | Basketball |
| Crypto.com Arena | Downtown LA | Artistic gymnastics, trampoline, boxing finals |
| Exposition Park Stadium (BMO Stadium) | Exposition Park | Flag football, lacrosse |
| Dodger Stadium | Downtown LA | Baseball |
| Rose Bowl | Pasadena | Soccer semifinals and finals |
| Alamitos Beach Stadium | Long Beach | Beach volleyball |
| Trestles State Beach | San Clemente | Surfing |
| Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium | Pomona | Cricket |
| Universal Studios lot | Universal City | Squash |
| Santa Anita Park | Arcadia | Equestrian |
| Devon Park and RIVERSPORT Rapids | Oklahoma City | Softball, canoe slalom |
The Opening Ceremony will be the first in Olympic history split between two venues, the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium. SoFi will also hold a temporary pool, and LA28 expects it to be the largest swimming venue the Olympics has ever used. During the Games it is called 2028 Stadium, because Olympic rules limit sponsor names on venues.
Long Beach is the second-biggest hub. Besides beach volleyball, it hosts water polo, artistic swimming, handball, sport climbing, shooting, rowing and canoe sprint. Sailing is split between Belmont Shore in Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Venice Beach is the home of the triathlon and the start of the marathon and road cycling races.
Why some events are outside Los Angeles
Two sports go about 1,300 miles east. Softball needs a bigger stadium than the LA area has, so it moves to Devon Park in Oklahoma City, the home of the Women’s College World Series. Canoe slalom needs a whitewater course, and the West Coast has none at Olympic standard. As a result, it goes to RIVERSPORT Rapids, also in Oklahoma City.
Soccer is spread wider still. In February 2026 LA28 named the six extra soccer venues, located in New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose and San Diego. Group matches start on the East Coast, then the tournament moves west. It ends at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, according to the LA28 soccer venue announcement.
Surfing, meanwhile, is in Orange County, at Lower Trestles near San Clemente. The wave there is more consistent than at beaches closer to LA.
New and returning sports at LA28
Each host city can propose extra sports for its own Games. In October 2023, the International Olympic Committee approved five additions for LA28:
- Flag football makes its Olympic debut, at Exposition Park Stadium.
- Squash also debuts, on the Universal Studios lot.
- Cricket returns for the first time since 1900, in the short T20 format, at a temporary stadium in Pomona.
- Lacrosse returns in the six-a-side format, its first medal event since 1908.
- Baseball and softball come back after their last appearance in Tokyo.
Flag football has drawn the most attention in the US, because American pros may compete. Basketball rosters, by contrast, have been filled with NBA players for decades. If you follow the business side of those leagues, our guide to NFL and NBA minimum salaries shows what players earn. SoFi Stadium, which hosts swimming, is also the home of the Rams and Chargers and a regular stop for prime-time NFL games, like the broadcasts covered in this report on Thursday and Monday night football.
LA28 tickets: where sales stand in October 2026
Tickets are sold only through the official LA28 platform. LA28 uses timed “drops.” First, you register for free. Then a random draw assigns some people a time slot to buy. If you are not picked, you stay in the pool for later draws.
Two drops have run so far:
- Drop 1 took registrations from January 14 to March 18, 2026. Locals in eight Southern California and Oklahoma counties got a presale in early April, and the general window ran April 9-19. According to the IOC, more than 4 million tickets were sold.
- Drop 2 took registrations until July 22, 2026, with time slots from August 10 to 20.
Single tickets started at $28. According to LA28’s ticketing FAQ, the next general sale for Olympic tickets opens in 2027 on a first-come, first-served basis. Paralympic tickets also go on sale for the first time in 2027. Exact dates had not been announced as of late October 2026.
So be careful with sites claiming to sell LA28 tickets now. Buy only from the official platform or its listed partners, and treat any other offer with caution.
Getting around during the Games
LA28 is planning a transit-first Games, which means organizers want most spectators to arrive by train, bus or shuttle rather than by car. Many venues sit near rail lines. For example, the Metro E Line stops at Exposition Park for the Coliseum, and the A Line reaches Long Beach. Before you go, it helps to understand LA Metro fares and passes. As of October 2026, fare capping limits a regular rider to $5 a day, which helps on days with two sessions in different zones.
Also plan for heat. Inland venues such as Pomona, Arcadia and the San Fernando Valley are often much hotter than the coast in July. Long Beach and Venice tend to stay milder. Check each venue’s bag and water rules once LA28 publishes them.
What LA28 means for people who live here
For residents, the Games are about more than tickets. Expect temporary road changes, security zones and heavier transit use around the busiest venues in July and August 2028. Exposition Park, Inglewood, downtown LA and Long Beach will see the most activity, because several venues sit close together there.
LA28 also runs a volunteer program, with Games-time roles and community volunteering listed on its website. Details and application windows are posted there, so check the official site rather than third-party sign-up pages.
Finally, the Paralympics bring a second wave of events in mid-August. That means some venues, such as SoFi Stadium and the Coliseum, stay busy for most of the summer.
For more explainers on teams, rules and events, see our health and sports guides.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the 2028 Olympics be held?
In Los Angeles and the surrounding region, from July 14 to July 30, 2028. Softball and canoe slalom are in Oklahoma City, and soccer group matches are played in six other US cities.
When are the 2028 Paralympics?
The Paralympic Games run from August 15 to August 27, 2028. The opening is at SoFi Stadium and the closing at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
What new sports are in the 2028 Olympics?
Flag football and squash debut. Cricket, lacrosse, and baseball and softball return to the program.
Can I still buy LA28 tickets?
Not right now. The next general sale of Olympic tickets is planned for 2027, and Paralympic tickets also go on sale in 2027. Registering on the official LA28 site keeps you in line for future draws.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- olympics.com/en/news/la28-olympic-games-venues-host-cities
- la28.org/en/newsroom/la28-unveils-seven-venues-for-olympic-footba…
- olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-session-approves-la28-s-proposal-for-five-a…
- la28.org/en/faqs/when-are-tickets-going-on-sale-for-the-la28-olym…
- olympics.com/ioc/news/more-than-4-million-tickets-sold-as-la28-opens-…
- la28.org/en/newsroom/drop-2-to-open-august-10-with-available-tick…
- la28.org/en/newsroom/la28-celebrates-updated-olympic-venue-plan.html
- la28.org/en/games-plan/venues/2028-stadium.html
- newsroom.olympics.com/record/1285
- la28.org/content/dam/latwentyeight/games-plan/maps/LA28OlympicGam…
- la28.org/en/newsroom/la28-reveals-comprehensive-paralympic-compet…
- paralympic.org/news/la28-competition-schedule