Punjab to Host Historic Mega Sports Event in Early 2026, Minister Announces

By Dr Ansab Ali — Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: The Government of Punjab has announced plans to host a historic mega sports event in the first quarter of 2026, a move officials say will be one of the largest sporting initiatives ever undertaken in the province.

Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar made the announcement while presiding over a high-level meeting at the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday. Senior officials, including Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, SBP Vice-Chairman Salman Malik, and Additional Secretary Sports Mian Usman Ali, were in attendance.

A detailed briefing on the Mega Sports Activity 2026 was presented to the minister, outlining province-wide competitions scheduled to run for 55 consecutive days from March to April 2026.

According to the minister, the event is expected to feature an unprecedented 1.3 million athletes, making it one of the largest multi-level sports engagements in South Asia. The government will distribute cash prizes worth millions of rupees among top performers.

Competitions will be held at inter-tehsil, inter-district, and inter-division levels, with participants receiving full sports kits, uniforms, footwear, transport, and accommodation.

Calling the event “a new chapter in Punjab’s sports history,” the minister said special opening and closing ceremonies would be organized, with prominent sports figures and dignitaries invited from across the country.

Highlighting other major upcoming events, the minister announced that the Lahore Marathon is also scheduled for early next year and will project a “positive and soft image of Punjab globally.” In addition, the CM Punjab Games will be expanded, and a series of competitions will be held under the Under-16 Talent Hunt Programme.

The minister reaffirmed that promoting sports remains a top priority of the provincial government. “Guided by the vision of the Chief Minister Punjab, we aim to steer our youth toward healthy activities. The Punjab Sports Department is taking effective steps to achieve this goal,” he stated.