The National Sports Commission (NSC) has scheduled the 21st National Sports Festival, known as the “Coal City Games,” to take place from November 27 to December 11, 2026, in Enugu State.
The announcement regarding these dates was made by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, during the inaugural meeting of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) convened in Abuja.
As per the approved timeline, state delegations are anticipated to arrive on November 25 and 26. The opening ceremony is set for November 27, while the closing ceremony is planned for December 11.
Olopade characterized the timeline as “sacrosanct,” emphasizing that the dates were established after extensive consultations with the Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Peter Mbah.
”I must commend Governor Mbah for his remarkable enthusiasm and the swift progress in the construction of facilities for the Games,” Olopade remarked yesterday. “This is highly commendable and highlights the state’s preparedness.”
The Director General also indicated that the 2026 edition is expected to be the most financially supported festival in Nigeria’s history. He acknowledged the lead sponsor, Premium Trust Bank, for their “historic contribution” to the event. Olopade expressed optimism that the Coal City Games would exceed the benchmarks established by the previous edition held in Abeokuta.
In accordance with the NSC’s “RHINSE” reform agenda, which seeks to alleviate the financial burden on participating states, the Commission has limited the number of sports to 20.
This comprises 15 mandatory sports and five optional sports selected by the host state.
The mandatory sports scheduled for the Enugu Games include Athletics (including Para-Athletics), Badminton (including Para-Badminton), Basketball (including Wheelchair Basketball), Boxing, Cycling, Football, Judo, Gymnastics, Swimming, Table Tennis (including Para-Table Tennis), Tennis, Taekwondo, Mixed Martial Arts, Weightlifting (including Para-Powerlifting), and Wrestling.
NSC announces date for 2026 National Sports Festival
