Top 10 Stories of 2025:  Long Beach Emerges as Largest Venue City for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games

As 2025 comes to a close, Long Beach is celebrating the milestones that helped move the City forward—and few are as exciting as its expanding role on the global stage. This year marked a major step in the journey to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with Long Beach preparing to host more Olympic sporting events than any city outside of Los Angeles, firmly positioning the City at the heart of the Games.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 (LA28) released the official Olympic competition schedule, offering the first detailed look at when medal events will unfold.

In total, 11 Olympic and seven Paralympic events will take place across Long Beach—more than double the number originally assigned in LA28’s initial bid. Iconic venues including Marine Stadium, Long Beach Arena, Alamitos Beach and the Long Beach Aquatics Center will come alive with world-class competition, showcasing Long Beach’s stunning waterfront, top-tier facilities and vibrant community to a global audience.

Olympic events scheduled in Long Beach include:

• July 12–23 — Water Polo at Long Beach Aquatics Center

• July 12–28 — Handball at Long Beach Arena

• July 15–22 — Rowing at Marine Stadium

• July 15–25 — Target Shooting at Long Beach Target Shooting Hall

• July 15–29 — Beach Volleyball at Alamitos Beach Stadium

• July 16–20 — Sailing (Windsurfing & Kite) along Belmont Shore

• July 17–18 — Open Water Swimming along Belmont Shore

• July 24–25 — Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints along Belmont Shore

• July 24–29 — Sport Climbing at Long Beach Climbing Theater

• July 25–29 — Artistic Swimming at Long Beach Aquatics Center

• July 25–29 — Canoe Sprint at Marine Stadium

Although the dates have not yet been released, Paralympic Games events happening in Long Beach include:

• Para Climbing at Convention Center Lot

• Para Swimming at Convention Center

• Shooting Para Sport inside Convention Center

• Sitting Volleyball at Long Beach Arena

• Blind Football at Alamitos Beach

• Para Rowing at Marine Stadium

• Para Canoe-Sprint at Marine Stadium

The 2028 Games will be historic: Los Angeles will become just the third city in history to host the Olympic Games three times and will welcome the Paralympic Games for the first time. Preparations are already well underway, and Long Beach is already making big moves. The City is now the first in the region to secure two National Hospitality Houses—Denmark and Greece—creating spaces for cultural exchange, watch parties and global connection during the Games.

The City of Long Beach is also accepting applications from local businesses for Olympic-related activations. As 2028 gets closer, the City will also share other opportunities to get involved.

For more information on the City’s planning and commitments for the Games, visit longbeach.gov/2028games.

The full Olympic competition schedule is available at LA28.org, and registration for LA28 ticket notifications will begin in January 2026.