Olympic returns to Los Angeles in exactly three years and organizers of the LA 2028 Games have released the first version of the competition schedule. The marquee event will serve as a stage for the stars to once again shine on and earn the coveted medal.
A Sunset Spectacle: Opening Ceremony at Two Venues
The Opening Ceremony of the LA 2028 Olympics kickstarts Friday, July 14, 2028, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (8:00 p.m. ET) — a time carefully chosen to align with Los Angeles’ iconic “golden hour.” In a dramatic break from tradition, the event will unfold across two locations: the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, and the modern 2028 Stadium (known today as SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood.
The dual-venue concept is designed to showcase both the legacy and future of Olympic sport in Los Angeles, and will be broadcast globally from both venues in real time.
Early Action
In keeping with recent Olympic custom, competition will begin two days before the Opening Ceremony, on Wednesday, July 12, 2028. A record seven sports will kick off early, including:
Basketball
Soccer
Cricket (returning to the Games for the first time since 1900)
Field Hockey
Rugby Sevens
Handball
Water Polo
This will mark the first time since 1952 that basketball games begin before the Opening Ceremony.
Venice Beach to Crown First Champion
The first Olympic medals of LA 2028 will be awarded on Saturday, July 15, during the Triathlon event along the iconic Venice Beach shoreline. This symbolic start brings the Games directly to the heart of the city’s vibrant coastal community, offering a stunning visual backdrop for the world’s first LA28 champion.
A Major Schedule Shake-Up: Track and Field Leads
In a historic shift, the LA28 organizers have swapped the traditional placement of track and field and swimming. For the first time in Olympic history:
Athletics (track and field) will be held in Week 1, from July 15–24, at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Swimming will move to Week 2, from July 22–30, at the 2028 Stadium, where a temporary pool will be constructed.
This change allows for better logistical use of venues and aims to optimize viewership for both U.S. and global audiences.
Super Saturday
The Games’ most action-packed day is set for Saturday, July 29, already being dubbed “Super Saturday.” On this day alone, fans will witness:
16 medal matches in team sports
19 individual sport finals
With wall-to-wall action across venues, it’s expected to be the single busiest and most exciting day of the Games.
New Sports
LA28 will feature a record 351 medal events, including several high-profile additions and returns:
Flag Football makes its Olympic debut (July 15–22 at BMO Stadium). Its early placement is designed to reduce conflict with NFL preseason camps, should active players be permitted to participate.
Cricket returns to the Olympics for the first time in 128 years, with matches hosted at the Fairplex in Pomona.
Baseball, a fan-favorite in past U.S.-hosted Games, returns from July 15–20 at Dodger Stadium.
A Fitting Finale
On Sunday, July 30, the Games will close in spectacular fashion:
The final swimming events will be held at SoFi Stadium from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. PT
The Closing Ceremony will follow at 6:00 p.m. PT at the LA Memorial Coliseum
Marathon races, a long-standing Olympic tradition, will be held that weekend, maintaining their place as the final athletics events
Also Read: LA 2028 Olympics: List Of Venues Ft. Venice Beach, Pomona Fairgrounds
More to come
While the sport-by-sport competition schedule is now live, detailed session times and ticketing information will follow later:
Event-by-event schedule: To be released in late 2025
Volunteer applications: Expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026
Ticket lottery registration: Begins in early 2026
The daily competition schedule can be viewed here. The competition schedule by session can be viewed here.
