The Most Exclusive Live Sporting Events in the World

Few things are as enthralling or as life-affirming as communally watching the best athletes in the world go at each other’s throats: the roaring crowds, impeccable fashions, the adrenaline rush, the after-parties. We spanned the globe to collect the best live-sports experiences – some you’ve heard of, many you probably haven’t. All of which are worth putting on your live-sports bucket list.

Wimbledon

London, England

What is it? Tennis’s most prestigious tournament. Founded in 1877, it’s the oldest tennis tournament and the only major still played on grass. 

What’s the vibe? Star studded with guests dressed to the nines! Everyone from British Royalty to Hollywood dynasties attend Wimbledon. 

Optimize your experience by… Join the cheekier fans for a picnic on Henman Hill, the grass terrace just outside Court No.1.

Tour de France

Various Locations

What is it? The pinnacle of cycling. This year the tour celebrates its 110th birthday, with the race starting in Bilbao, Spain, the heart of Basque Country, and the final sprint zipping through the massive crowds lining the Champs-Élysées in Paris. 

What’s the vibe? Twenty-three days of Strava Christmas. 

Optimize your experience by… Enjoy the tour’s first finish in the Côte d’Azur. The last leg of the 2024 tour is set to move to Nice.

The Masters Tournament

Augusta, Georgia

What is it? The apex of golf. A sepia-toned, no-phones-allowed, elaborately stage-managed, moderately airbrushed evocation of golf’s glorious past. 

What’s the vibe? Prim and proper. Augusta National Golf Club is basically the Disneyland for the power elite. 

Optimize your experience by… Dropping by the pro shop, which is famous for inducing grown men to drop thousands of dollars on logoed merch. What you really want is the $30 folding chair. Stick your business card in the slot on the backrest and drop it at Amen Corner (where the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes converge) first thing in the morning—you’ve claimed your spot for the day.

Monaco Grand Prix

Monte Carlo

What is it? It’s the most alluring event on the Formula 1 calendar. A 78-lap race through the winding, narrow streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine.

What’s the vibe? Glamorous. As a Monaco native, Charles Leclerc has said, “It’s part of the myth of Formula 1.”

Optimize your experience by… Watching from the grandstand by the famous Casino de Monte Carlo, or, if you’re willing to spend a little more (or have the right connections), from a yacht in the harbor.

FIFA World Cup

Various Locations

What is it? The most anticipated tournament in the sport, there is nothing in football that can compare with the World Cup. Televised with over 3 billion viewers worldwide and 1 billion viewers watching the final. 

What’s the vibe? Lively. There’s no shortage of beer, rivalry and non-stop chanting. Come prepared to scream, shout and let it all out.

Optimize your experience by… Pregame with a Manhattan or Martini, before you take in the 100-foot banners, non stop shouting and colored smoke – then make a mad dash to the afterparties. With the 2026 World Cup Finals being in New York/Jersey, it’s only right.

The Olympics (Summer & Winter)

Various Locations

What is it? A display of sports excellence where the world’s greatest battle it out. The first Olympic games were hosted in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 

What’s the vibe? Electrifying and inclusive. Supporters and fans from all over the world unite to celebrate the creme de la creme of the sports world.

Optimize your experience by… Exploring the host city. With the Summer 2024 games being hosted in Paris, it makes for the perfect holiday destination.

NBA Finals

Various Locations

What is it? A nail-biting best-of-seven-series competition that determines the NBA Champions.

What’s the vibe? Long story short, it’s lit. With guests including Beyonce and Jay-Z, it’s the place to be for basketball fanatics.

Optimize your experience by… Taking public transit to the games. Trust me, paying $100+ for parking (if you can even find parking) and the subsequent traffic jams following, are sure to dampen the mood.

Polo at Palermo

Buenos Aires, Argentina

What is it? The Argentine Open is one of the oldest and most illustrious events on the international polo calendar, as well as one of the main social events in Buenos Aires, with its famous “after polo” at the polo bars, and musical shows every night.

What’s the vibe? Lavish. From the after polo parties to the glamorous spectators, this is the event of the season in Buenos Aires.

Optimize your experience by… Learning the rules of Polo. By no means do you need to be an expert but it’s more rewarding if you have some knowledge of the race.

Boston Marathon

Boston, Massachusetts

What is it? One of the most popular and competitive marathons in the world. The course winds through several cities throughout Greater Boston, and finishes on Boylston Street in Beantown’s historic Copley Square.

What’s the vibe? Exhilarating. 

Optimize your experience by… Choosing your spot. Finding the right vantage point is one of the most important decisions for those interested in spending the whole of Marathon Monday watching the runners.

Kentucky Derby

Louiseville, Kentucky

What is it? Dubbed as, “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, Kentucky Derby is the most esteemed American horse race in the United States.

What’s the vibe? Might I say festive. It’s time to show up and show out with head-turning hats, bold dresses and chic shoes. It’s really all about the fashion at the Kentucky Derby.

Optimize your experience by… Enjoying The Lily – a vibrant pink concoction awfully reminiscent of a Cosmopolitan or a Mint Julep – the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. It’s sacrilege to attend the derby and not indulge in these customary libations.

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