Kelowna prepares to welcome thousands for 2026 BC Summer Games

Kelowna is preparing to welcome thousands of young athletes, coaches, officials and supporters as the BC Summer Games return to the city July 22 to 26, bringing together some of British Columbia’s top emerging athletes for several days of competition, celebration and community spirit.

Up to 3,000 athletes, coaches, and officials are expected to participate, with young athletes aged 10 to 18 competing across 19 sports. Events for athletes with disabilities are also included in the Games.

Competitions will take place at venues throughout Kelowna and neighbouring communities, including West Kelowna, Lake Country and Vernon. Sports featured in the 2026 Games include artistic swimming, athletics, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, box lacrosse, canoe and kayak, field lacrosse, golf, rowing, rugby, sailing, softball, swimming, towed water sports, triathlon, ultimate, volleyball and wrestling.

The Games officially begin with an opening ceremony at Prospera Place on Thursday, July 23, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Seating is limited to participants’ family and friends.

Spectators are welcome at all sport competitions, and admission is free. Supporters are encouraged to cheer positively and follow the Culture of the Games expectations while attending events. With numerous competitions happening at different locations and times, spectators should review the spectator schedule before heading out.

Individual schedules for each sport, including competition times and venue information, are available on the Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games Sport Schedules page.

Those unable to attend in person may also have opportunities to watch from home. Livestreaming is being organized by individual provincial sport organizations rather than through one Games-wide broadcast. When a sport offers a livestream, the viewing link will be added to its listing on the official Sport Schedules page. Livestreams are expected to be particularly useful for sports with limited spectator seating.

The BC Games have been celebrating developing athletes and host communities for nearly five decades.

The first BC Summer Games were held in Penticton in 1978, followed by the first BC Winter Games in Kamloops the next year. Since then, the Games have been hosted by 40 communities and have involved more than 115,000 athletes and 160,000 volunteers.

This will be the fourth time Kelowna has hosted the BC Summer Games. The city previously welcomed the event in 1980, 1994 and 2008, and also hosted the BC Senior Games in 2000.

For many athletes, the Games represent an important step in their development. BC Games alumni have gone on to compete for Canada at national, Olympic and Paralympic levels.

Spectators can find sports schedules, venue information, updates, and any available livestream links on the official Kelowna 2026 BC Summer Games website.