In 2018 sports fans may have enjoyed a football World Cup, Winter Olympics and Ryder Cup but that does not mean the next 12 months will be any less dramatic.
On the sporting schedule in 2019 are two World Cups - in cricket and rugby union - as well as the usual golf majors, tennis grand slams, Formula 1 grands prix and European football finals.
Here we pick out 19 sporting events to put in your diary in 2019…
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January 2019 sports events
Darts PDC William Hill World Darts Championship final
- When: 1 January
- Where: Alexandra Palace, London
- Website: pdc.tv
The PDC’s year-ending tournament starts in December but the final takes place on New Year’s Day (8pm start). Rob Cross beat Phil Taylor 7-2 in last year’s World Championship final.
Basketball NBA London 2019: Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks
NBA returns to London in January when the Washington Wizards take on the New York Knicks in a regular-season game at the O2.
February 2019 sporting events
Rugby union Six Nations Championship
With the Rugby World Cup on the horizon, the UK and European teams - Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy - will be looking to fine-tune their squads and tactics in the 2019 Six Nations championship. France host Wales in the opening match on 1 February in Paris.
American football NFL Super Bowl LIII
- When: 3 February
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Website: atlsuperbowl53.com
The 53rd National Football League (NFL) championship game will be held at the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.
March 2019 sporting events
Formula 1Australian Grand Prix
The 2019 Formula 1 season starts down under at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. British youngsters Lando Norris and George Russell will make their F1 debuts for McLaren and Williams respectively.
April 2019 sporting events
Horse racing Grand National
British horse racing’s biggest day will see tens of thousands of fans pack Aintree and millions of pounds spent in the bookies by punters.
Athletics London Marathon
Approximately 40,000 runners will hit the streets of London taking on the 26.2-mile distance. Mo Farah returns after his third-placed finish in 2018.
May 2019 sporting events
Cricket ICC Cricket World Cup
Eleven venues across England and Wales will host matches in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.
June 2019 sporting events
Football Uefa Nations League finals
- When: 5-9 June
- Where: Porto and Guimaraes, Portugal
- Website: uefa.com
England, Portugal, Holland and Switzerland will compete in the inaugural Uefa Nations League finals. In the semi-finals England face Holland and Portugal take on Switzerland.
Baseball MLB London 2019: Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Major League Baseball’s - and American sports’ - biggest rivalry heads to the UK capital as the Red Sox battle against the Yankees.
July 2019 sporting events
Tennis Wimbledon Championships
- When: 1-14 July
- Where: All England Club, Wimbledon, London
- Website: wimbledon.com
The third grand slam of the 2019 tennis season will be played on the grass at the All England Club.
Cycling Tour de France
- When: 6-28 July
- Where: Belgium and France
- Website: letour.fr
The 21-stage Tour de France, one of cycling’s grand tour races, will start in the Belgian capital of Brussels and finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Formula 1 British Grand Prix
Can Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, win in front of his home crowd in the 2019 British GP?
GolfThe Open
- When: 14-21 July
- Where: Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Website: theopen.com
Golf’s best players go to Northern Ireland for the 148th Open and look to win the Claret Jug - golf’s most treasured trophy.
August 2019 sporting events
Cricket The Ashes: England vs. Australia
- When: August and September
- Where: Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval
- Website: ecb.co.uk
England will play matches at home against Pakistan and Ireland in 2019 but the real highlight will be the Ashes Test series against Australia.
September 2019 sporting events
Rugby union Rugby World Cup
Japan will host Asia’s first ever Rugby World Cup - can the New Zealand All Blacks win a third trophy in a row?
October 2019 sporting events
American Football NFL London series
- When: TBC
- Where: Wembley and Tottenham
- Website: nfl.com
The NFL has confirmed that four regular-season matches will be played in London in 2019 - two games at Wembley and two at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
November 2019 sporting events
Golf DP World Tour Championship Dubai
- When: 21-24 November
- Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE
- Website: europeantour.com
The 2019 European Tour season will conclude with the final event - the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
December 2019 sporting events
Formula 1Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the Formula 1 season, will be held at Yas Marina Circuit in the UAE capital city.
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