Get ready for a landmark year that promises to redefine sports, space exploration, and international cooperation in 2026 - a year packed with unprecedented global events that will capture the world's imagination.

Winter sports enthusiasts will have their eyes fixed on Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, where the Winter Olympics and Paralympics will showcase extraordinary athletic talent from February 6 to 22. The opening ceremony at San Siro soccer stadium promises star power, with TODAY show anchor Savannah Guthrie and NBC Sports' Terry Gannon hosting, and performances by global icon Mariah Carey and Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino.

Team USA will field an impressive roster of returning champions, including gold medalists Jessie Diggins in cross-country skiing, Noah Elliot in para snowboarding, Alex Hall in freestyle skiing, and snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim. The Paralympic Games will follow in March, featuring six adaptive sports that highlight the incredible resilience and skill of athletes with disabilities.

Beyond the athletic arena, 2026 marks a momentous return to lunar exploration with NASA's Artemis II mission. Scheduled to launch between February and April, this groundbreaking flight will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the moon, representing the closest human approach to lunar surface in over five decades. The mission is critically important, not just scientifically, but symbolically - continuing America's commitment to space exploration and potentially setting the stage for future lunar landings.

Soccer fans will experience an unprecedented global celebration with the 23rd FIFA World Cup, spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico - the first time the tournament has been hosted by three nations. From June 11 to July 19, a record 48 teams will compete across 16 host cities, including iconic venues like Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Defending champions Argentina, alongside soccer powerhouses like Brazil, England, Germany, France, and Spain, will battle for international supremacy in 104 thrilling matches.

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, 2026 represents more than just sporting events and space missions - it symbolizes human potential, international collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of excellence across diverse fields of human achievement.