The UK sports calendar is always packed, and 2026 is no different. From international tournaments to iconic annual fixtures, there’s something for everyone!
The season is already in full swing, with the Guinness Men’s Six Nations already delivering some incredible action, and (at the time of writing) the Women’s Six Nations is currently underway. Naturally, we’re rooting for our reigning world champions, The Red Roses, to bring it home. But there’s much more to come.
Now, while press passes and access aren’t available to just anyone, you have to start somewhere. The major events offer scale and spectacle, but grassroots sport is where it all begins.
It’ll provide space to experiment and develop instinct. Local leagues and amateur competitions are where you can experiment and develop your style, as well as hone your timing, anticipation and storytelling skills.
Below are some of the top sporting moments to come in 2026, plus guidance on how to approach each one from behind the lens, and how to look at careers in sports photography.
Perhaps you're on the lookout for gear advice. If so, check out the following buying guides:
Best Lens for Sports Photography
Best Camera for Sports Photography
Women’s FA Cup Final (31 May 2026)
Football finals are where it all boils down, and moments of match-defining action can happen in a split second, often followed by emotional reactions that tell the real story. This year's Women’s FA Cup Final is set to be a nailbiter, so it’s going to be all about the emotions on the field!
Tips for football photography
- Positioning matters more than reach! Stay low and close to the edge of the box for stronger storytelling angles
- Anticipate play by learning team patterns, especially attacking transitions and set pieces
- Prioritise emotion as much as the action. These celebrations, frustrations, and reaction shots add depth to your portfolio.
Diving deeper into that third tip, it’s not all just about the action. Award-winning photographer Hannah Couzens is a portrait photographer and works with sporting brands to help inspire people to get into sport. To paraphrase one tip from her
When you are behind the lens, it is so important to capture as much variety as possible for your clients. For example, when we shot the Asics campaigns, we featured seven runners from all across Europe, covering a real range of ages and nationalities.
The goal was to make sure that when young women see those images, they feel a genuine sense of belonging. We want them to look at a campaign and think, "That could be me." Ultimately, it is all about sparking inspiration. The more diversity and inclusivity you can bring to your work, the more powerful it becomes.
Watch Hannah’s full video below:
Wimbledon (29 June – 12 July 2026)
You might think that there can’t be that much to capture in tennis, but you’d be wrong. Tennis is packed full of drama and emotion, especially at Wimbledon. Hours long. Ups and downs. Momentum shifts around every corner. Yes, it is repetitive by nature, but that’s why anticipation and timing are essential if you want to create standout shots.
Tips for tennis photography
- Understand rally rhythm to predict key moments such as serve impact or winner attempts
- Focus on facial expressions at the point of contact for intensity and emotion
- Use clean, uncluttered backgrounds to keep attention on the athlete
The two shots you see in this section were taken by the legendary, world-renowned sports photographer Eddie Keough. We’ve worked with Eddie a handful of times, and he’s a font of sport photography knowledge with over 30 years of experience. We sat down with him to hear about his journey to becoming a sports photographer and asked him for advice on how you can also make a career.
Read How to Become a Sports Photographer with Eddie Keogh | Wex Photo Video
British Grand Prix (2–5 July 2026)
Motorsport photography is all about your technical control and timing. Speed, distance - and if you don't have a press pass -positioning, make your preparations essential. The British Grand Prix delivers on high-speed action and dramatic cornering, with iconic sections like Silverstone’s sweeping bends offering plenty of opportunities to capture motion, precision, and atmosphere in a single frame.
Tips for motorsport photography
- Use slower shutter speeds and panning techniques to convey motion
- Focus on corners where suspension load and driver concentration are most visible
- Include track environment for context and storytelling
You might wonder how to get into motorsport photography and even how to start your career. Well, we had the joy of chatting to the hugely successful Motorsport Photographer, Lou Johnson. She gave us her story of how she got into the industry and offered some advice on how you too, can make a career as she did. Click here to read How to Become a | Motorsport Photographer with Lou Johnson
You can also watch our video with Lou here:
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games (23 July – 2 August 2026)
Athletics has a bit of everything. You’ve got structured, repeatable moments, but it all still relies on timing. With Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games 2026, this is one of the most accessible major sporting events for UK photographers. If you are able to get a photography pass, the variety of disciplines means you’ll be moving between very different environments, from fast-paced track events to more controlled indoor sports.
Tips for athletics photography
- Learn each sport’s peak moment and adjust your positioning accordingly
- Mix a range of tight framing for intensity with wide shots for scale
- Don’t stop shooting at the finish line! Those post-race emotions are often the strongest shots.
We’ve spoken about Eddie previously, and among the videos we’ve taken with him, this one just so happens to be about photographing gymnastics and Olympic sports. Pretty perfect, right?
There are different routes you can take...
Just like Hannah Couzens from earlier in this piece, there are alternative routes you can take with your sports photography. Hannah is a portrait photographer and has combined her love of sports with her portraiture. We've also spoken to sports and outdoor lifestyle photographer Phil Hill.
As we discuss in the interview, his engaging, filmic photographic style has allowed him opportunities to travel the world, capturing sporting events and branded content. From large cities to remote event locations, Phil has learned to trust his instincts and play to his strengths, leaning into his first-hand experience of the sports he photographs.
Click here to read Commercial Sports Photography | An Interview with Phil Hill
About the Author
Leo White has been part of the Wex Photo Video team since 2018, taking on roles from the contact centre to the product setup team. Holding both a BA and an MA in photography, Leo brings a wealth of expertise he’s always ready to share.
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