Sports for People and Planet 2026

Images: Adobe Stock, Getty Images Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other stakeholders. © 2026 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system.Contents Foreword 3 Executive summary 4 1 Setting the context – the sports economy today 7 1.1 Defining the sports economy 8 1.2 Growth drivers shaping the future 12 1.3 Converging risks to the sports economy’s 15 growth: Health and environment 2 Pathways to prosperity 22 Pathway 1 Championing resource stewardship 23 Pathway 2 Placing sport at the heart of cities 27 Pathway 3 Catalysing purpose-driven capital flows 32 Conclusion 35 Contributors 36 Endnotes 37 Sports for People and Planet 2