Sports fans are spoilt for choice in 2024, with the schedule packed with a ton of top-class events taking place across the world.
Fans in the United Kingdom are extremely well catered for, while neighbouring Ireland is also set to host several high-profile events.
With that in mind, we have pinpointed some of the must-visit sports events taking place in the UK and Ireland during 2024.
Ice Hockey – The Friendship Series
North American women’s ice hockey gets its moment in the spotlight in January when the SSE Arena in Belfast stages the prestigious Friendship Series.
The event sees National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams Providence College and Princeton University going head-to-head in a two-game tournament.
The Friendship Series is designed to cement the relationship between Boston and Belfast, with the former dubbed the ‘Irish-American capital of the United States’.
Belfast has developed a strong affinity with professional ice hockey in recent years, with the city the home to Elite League club Belfast Giants.
Rugby Union – Six Nations Championship
The 2024 Six Nations Championship gives sports fans the opportunity to watch a ton of top-class international rugby during February and March.
The first weekend in February features a blockbuster clash between Wales and Scotland, while round 2 sees England go head-to-head with Wales at Twickenham.
The Ireland vs Wales and Scotland vs England games on February 24 will be extremely competitive and are sure to generate plenty of interest on online betting sites.
England vs Ireland is a standout game on March 9, while Ireland vs Scotland the following weekend has the potential to be a title decider.
Horse Racing – Cheltenham Festival
Horse racing fans in Ireland will embark on their annual betting pilgrimage to Gloucester in March when the four-day Cheltenham Festival is staged.
The meeting generates massive interest on online sportsbooks such as Novibet, which offers odds on the main races several months in advance of the event.
As highlighted by this comprehensive Novibet review, Irish punters who don’t travel to Cheltenham can still keep up-to-speed with the progress of their bets via live streaming coverage.
This serves to heighten the interest in a National Hunt meeting which is undoubtedly one of the biggest betting events of the year in the UK and Ireland.
Soccer – UEFA Champions League Final
Wembley Stadium in London will be the venue as the best two soccer teams in Europe battle to claim the prestigious 2023/24 Champions League title on June 1.
Novibet rate reigning champions Manchester City as the favourites to retain their title and they are certain to give punters a good run for their money.
However, La Liga giants Real Madrid may be the value bet as they strive to lift the prestigious trophy for the 15th time in their history.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been a standout performer for the club since signing for them in the summer and he could end the season as a European champion.
The Open Golf Championship – Scotland
Golf takes centre stage during the summer as the 152nd edition of The Open Championship is played at Royal Troon in Scotland from July 18-21.
This will be the first time the course has staged the tournament since 2016, when Henrik Stenson defeated Phil Mickelson after an epic final-round battle.
United States golfers have had the upper hand in recent years, with Colin Morikawa (2021) and Brain Harman (2023) both getting their names on the roll of honour.
Spanish star Jon Rahm will be a popular pick with bettors in 2024 after finished tied for second place behind Harman in this year’s event.
Gaelic Games – All-Ireland Football Championship
The Gaelic Games attract massive interest in Ireland, particularly when the senior championship finals in hurling and football are played towards the end of July.
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the top inter-county tournament for Gaelic Football, and the final is another major betting event for Irish punters.
A sell-out crowd of 82,300 attended the 2023 final at Croke Park in Dublin and were whipped into a frenzy as Dublin defeated Kerry to clinch their 31st title.
The two teams are the most successful in the history of the competition and it would be no surprise to see them battle for glory again in 2024.
Horse Racing – British Champions Day
British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse is the culmination a season-long series in flat racing that crowns champions in five different divisions.
A top-class handicap completes the six-race line-up on a day which is the richest in British racing, with £4.2 million prize money up for grabs.
The meeting has inevitably produced plenty of remarkable performances, with the most noteworthy coming in the first two years of British Champions Day.
Frankel was brilliant in the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and followed up with an even more commanding victory on his final start in the 2012 Champion Stakes.
Darts – PDC World Darts Championship
The highlight at the end of the sporting year in the UK and Ireland is the annual PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace in London.
The event features 96 players, who are whittled down during a straight knockout format to a final two who battle for the right to be crowned world champion.
Michael Smith is the reigning champion after defeating Michael van Gerwyn 7-4 to claim the prestigious title for the first time in his career.
The two players will likely be in contention this time around, while Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries are other players who will be well supported in the outright betting market.