The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will bring the Summer Games back to the United States from July 14 through July 30, 2028, with Los Angeles hosting for the third time after 1932 and 1984. For U.S. fans, the event will be unusually accessible: major competitions will be spread across familiar Southern California stadiums, arenas, beaches, and entertainment districts, with selected events also taking place outside the Los Angeles area. Planning early matters because LA28 is not a single-stadium experience; where you stay, which sports you choose, and how you group venues can shape the entire trip.
When are the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics?
The Olympic Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, July 14, 2028, with the Games closing on Sunday, July 30. The Opening Ceremony will be shared between the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the stadium in Inglewood commonly known as SoFi Stadium. The Closing Ceremony is planned for the Coliseum.
Some competition will begin before the Opening Ceremony. Baseball, for example, is scheduled to start on July 13. The published competition schedule is already detailed by sport and session, but LA28 notes that schedules can still change before Games time. Fans building travel plans should therefore treat current session times as a strong planning guide rather than a guarantee.
What will be different about LA 2028?
The 2028 Summer Olympics will use a wide network of existing venues rather than relying on a newly built Olympic park. That gives the Games a distinctly Southern California feel. Athletics will return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, swimming will be staged in the Inglewood stadium, triathlon will take place in the Venice Beach area, and several downtown events will use the Los Angeles Convention Center and nearby venues.
LA28 also changes the usual order of two headline sports. Athletics is scheduled for the first week, while swimming moves to the second week. That means fans who normally associate the opening half of the Olympics with swimming should check the calendar carefully before booking flights or hotels.
Which sports should U.S. fans watch closely?
The Los Angeles Olympic Games will include the familiar core of the Summer Olympics plus five additional sports approved specifically for LA28: baseball/softball, cricket in the T20 format, flag football, lacrosse sixes, and squash. Baseball, softball, cricket, and lacrosse are returning to the Olympic program, while flag football and squash are set to make their Olympic debuts.
That mix could be especially appealing to American spectators. Baseball and softball have strong domestic followings, flag football adds a distinctly U.S.-friendly storyline, and lacrosse has deep roots in North America. At the same time, cricket gives U.S. fans a chance to experience one of the world’s biggest sports in an Olympic setting.
Where will the events take place?
Fans should think in zones rather than assuming everything is in downtown Los Angeles. Major clusters include Downtown Los Angeles, Exposition Park, Inglewood, Venice, Long Beach, Carson, and other Southern California locations. Cricket is planned for the fairgrounds in Pomona, surfing for Trestles Beach near San Clemente, volleyball for the arena in Anaheim, and equestrian competition for Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
Some events extend even farther. Oklahoma City is part of the LA28 competition plan for selected sports, so a fan trying to see every favorite event should confirm the venue before making a California-only itinerary.
A useful internal planning path for readers is to compare our Los Angeles Olympic venues guide, Team USA event guide, and Olympic travel planning guide before choosing tickets.
How to build a practical LA28 itinerary
The best strategy is to organize days around geographic clusters instead of buying attractive sessions first and solving transportation later. Los Angeles traffic and long cross-region distances can turn an ambitious schedule into a stressful one.
For example, a fan staying near downtown might build one day around athletics at the Coliseum and another around events at the Convention Center. A separate coastal day could focus on Venice-area competition. Trying to combine a morning event in Long Beach with an afternoon session in the San Fernando Valley or an evening event in Inglewood may be possible, but it leaves far less margin for security lines, transit delays, and venue entry.
Another smart move is to choose one priority sport per day, then add a second session only if it is nearby and the timing is comfortable. Leave extra time before medal sessions, ceremonies, and high-demand Team USA events.
What U.S. fans should know about tickets
As of October 2026, LA28 has completed its two general-public Olympic ticket drops for 2026. The next announced opportunity for the public is scheduled for 2027, when additional Olympic inventory is expected to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. LA28 has also said the first Paralympic ticket drop will take place in 2027.
Because millions of Olympic tickets have already been sold, fans who missed the earlier releases should follow official LA28 ticket updates rather than relying on unofficial resale claims or old registration advice. Availability will vary by sport and session.
Planning beyond the competition schedule
A Los Angeles 2028 Olympics guide should cover more than event dates. Summer heat, travel time, venue security, accommodation location, and the size of the region will all affect the fan experience. If you are flying in from another state, choose lodging after identifying the two or three venue zones you expect to visit most often.
For families, it may be better to attend fewer sessions with easier transfers. For dedicated sports fans, a split stay can make sense if the itinerary includes several days in one cluster and several in another. Keep confirmation emails, ticket details, venue rules, and transportation plans together so each day has a simple backup plan.
FAQ
When do the 2028 Summer Olympics start and end?
The Olympic Games are scheduled for July 14 through July 30, 2028. Some competition, including baseball, is scheduled to begin before the Opening Ceremony.
Is Los Angeles the only city hosting events?
No. Events are planned across multiple Southern California communities, and selected competitions are also scheduled in Oklahoma City. Fans should check the venue for each sport before booking accommodation.
Which new sports are coming to LA 2028?
The five additional sports approved for LA28 are baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. Flag football and squash are making their Olympic debuts.
When can fans buy more LA28 Olympic tickets?
The next announced general-public opportunity is planned for 2027, with first-come, first-served Olympic ticket sales and refreshed inventory across sports, subject to availability.
A Games built for planning ahead
The Olympics on U.S. soil will give American fans a rare chance to experience the Summer Games without an international trip, but LA’s scale rewards preparation. Start with the sports you care about most, map the venue zones, watch the official schedule for updates, and build travel days with realistic buffers. The strongest LA 2028 Olympics plan is not the one with the most sessions; it is the one that gives you enough time to enjoy the competition, the city, and the moments you came to see.