Wales is a passionate sporting nation – especially when it comes to rugby union. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is home to the Welsh national rugby team and every year it hosts games in the Six Nations championship.
While the capital Cardiff offers a big city vibe and many attractions, visitors are recommended to explore the rest of the country and enjoy Wales’s outdoor activities. Trekkers, walkers and bikers should head to Snowdonia or the Brecon Beacons for their outdoor fix.
For golfers why not play one of Wales’s top coastal courses or tee it up at the 2010 Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor?
If you fancy something a bit different (or crazier) then the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, Man vs Mountain event or the Tenby Boxing Day Swim could be for you.
Here we pick out some of the best sport events and things to do in Wales this year.
Top sporting events in Wales
Wales Six Nations matches
- What: international rugby union championship
- When: February and March 2021
- Where: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Brecon Ultra Spring
- What: 46-mile(ish) mixed terrain race
- When: 24 April
- Where: Brecon Beacons
- Website: uphilldowndale.com
Love Trails Festival
- What: the world’s first music and running festival
- When: 1-4 July 2021
- Where: Llanrhidian, Gower Peninsula
- Website: lovetrailsfestival.co.uk
International Snowdon Race
- What: 600 runners tackle the slopes of Mt Snowdon
- When: 17 July 2021
- Where: Snowdonia National Park
- Website: snowdonrace.co.uk
World Bog Snorkelling Championships
- What: one of the quirkiest events in world sport
- When: 29 August 2021
- Where: Llanwrtyd Wells, mid Powys
- Website: green-events.co.uk
Man vs Mountain
- What and where: starts at sea level in Caernarfon Castle then goes up and down Mt Snowdon before finishing with punishing obstacles, including the infamous Vertical Kilometre
- When: 4 September 2021
- Website: ratracemanvsmountain.co.uk
Cardiff Half Marathon
- What: 13.1-mile race through the Welsh capital
- When: 3 October 2021
- Where: starts at Cardiff Castle and ends at Cardiff City Hall
- Website: cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk
Tenby Boxing Day Swim
- What: the world-famous fancy dress swim
- When: 26 December 2021
- Where: North Beach, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
- Website: tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk
Coral Welsh Grand National
- What: Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase
- When: December 2021
- Where: Chepstow, Wales
- Website: chepstow-racecourse.co.uk
Sports activities and things to do in Wales
Principality Stadium Tours
- What: stadium tour, rugby legend tour and Santa experience
- Where: Cardiff, Wales
- Website: principalitystadium.wales
Walking and biking in Snowdonia
- Where: Snowdonia National Park, north Wales
- Website: visitsnowdonia.info
- More details: visitwales.com
Brecon Beacons walks and treks
- What: discover the mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park
- Where: Brecon Beacons National Park, south Wales
- Website: breconbeacons.org
- More details: visitwales.com
Golf in Wales
- What: Wales is home to roughly 200 golf courses
- More details: visitwales.com and welshgolfcourses.com
Other activities to do in Wales
- Cycling and mountain biking
- Fishing in lakes and sea
- Horse riding
- Walking and trekking
- Water sports
- Sea caving
- Adventure parks
- Underground attractions
- See more details at visitwales.com
Main image: View of the summit of Snowdon by Jeff Buck (CC BY-SA 2.0/WikiCommons)