Gone are the days when nontraditional sports were regulated to the late-night hours of cable sports networks. From cornhole—also known as “bags”—and disc golf to Spikeball (roundnet) and events such as Tough Mudder and Spartan Race, millions of competitors and spectators have raised the profile of sports once considered obscure.
If you’re tracking trending nontraditional sports in 2026 for tournaments and sports tourism, obstacle course racing, cornhole, rugby, roundnet (Spikeball), pickleball, and disc golf remain strong—driven by scalable event formats, social play, and venue flexibility.Whether you’re adventurous, looking for a fun new sport to play socially with friends, or (more importantly) scouting what’s next for your event calendar, these six trending nontraditional sports are still the ones to watch—now with a planner lens.
1. Obstacle Course Racing
Since 2011, Sarah Pozdol went from an obstacle course racing novice to reaching event podiums to training thousands who have become part of the sport’s ever-growing number of racers. “I was curious about what I was hearing,” Pozdol said of obstacle course racing. “Jumping and crawling through mud, maneuvering through the woods, climbing cargo nets and swinging from things. It all sounded exciting and I wanted to be part of it.”
Spartan grew from a single race in Burlington, Vermont, into a global endurance brand. Spartan and World Obstacle have described Spartan as operating 250+ events across 40+ countries and attracting 1M+ annual participants.
Similarly, Tough Mudder debuted its OCR event series in 2010 to challenge athletes’ mental and physical strength. The brand has since been folded under the same umbrella: Spartan completed an acquisition of Tough Mudder’s U.S. business and assets (approved through bankruptcy proceedings) and positioned Tough Mudder to continue operating events under the Spartan family.
Planner takeaways (OCR in 2026):
- Venue type: parks/trails, ski resorts, large tracts with controlled access + staging
- Operations focus: permitting, medical, mud/water management, spectator corrals, and shuttle/parking flow
- Bid tip: ask early about land-use restrictions, weather contingency plans, and insurance requirements (OCR contracts get technical fast)
2. Cornhole
Once considered a backyard game, cornhole has come a long way in a short time. Millions of views on social and steady TV exposure have helped professional cornhole become a legitimate event product.
In 2026, the American Cornhole League and ESPN renewed their media-rights agreement through 2028, with the new deal calling for 30 hours of original programming minimum (and the league typically delivering more).
Cornhole’s humble roots at cookouts and among tailgaters still support the notion it’s an accessible sport with simple rules that can be played almost anywhere by nearly anyone.
Planner takeaways (cornhole in 2026):
- Venue type: convention centers, arenas (concourse/floor), fieldhouses, fairgrounds
- Space planning: lane layout + spectator lanes + vendor activation (it’s often part sport, part social festival)
- Weather advantage: easy to run indoors year-round—ideal for shoulder seasons
3. Rugby
Rugby’s growth story in the U.S. has long tied back to grassroots development and Olympic exposure. The sport’s fundamentals still help drive participation—often summarized as “all you need is a ball and a field.”
For an updated benchmark, USA Rugby’s 2024 demographic report lists NGB Membership: 82,633.
Planner takeaways (rugby in 2026):
- Venue type: multi-field grass complexes, stadium showcases for finals
- Key needs: lined fields, medical access, officials, and recovery space (rugby is contact—build the safety plan accordingly)
- Bid tip: prioritize hotel clusters and quick food options; rugby weekends can be long, and teams often travel in groups
4. Spikeball
You know a sport is growing in notoriety when it makes ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays. Spikeball—technically called roundnet—has done that and more, and has featured tournaments around the U.S.
2026 reality check for organizers: Spikeball now emphasizes organizer support tiers and notes that in 2025 there were no Spikeball-run events, with competitive structures shifting toward partner organizations and national governing bodies.
What’s not to like? The sport offers fast-paced action as teams of two swat and spike a ball into what looks like a mini trampoline.
Planner takeaways (roundnet in 2026):
- Venue type: parks, beaches, indoor turf, gym floors (high flexibility)
- Event model: scalable—from local festivals to 500–1000+ player tournaments with stronger logistical support
- Bid tip: confirm sanctioning/format early (rules + rankings structures can vary by organizer)
5. Pickleball
On the other end of the spectrum is the uniquely named pickleball. The sport has moved well beyond the “niche” phase: SFIA’s 2024 topline participation report shows 13.6 million pickleball participants in 2023 (up 51.8% year-over-year), and notes the sport has grown 223.5% since 2020.
USA Pickleball’s 2025 Annual Growth Report adds another practical planning signal: USA Pickleball reported 104,828 members in 2025, plus a rapidly expanding “places to play” database and sanctioned tournament activity.
“You don’t have to be a great tennis player to play pickleball,” as the original article noted. It’s still social. It’s still accessible. But for planners, it’s also now a facility-capacity story.
Planner takeaways (pickleball in 2026):
- Venue type: dedicated pickleball centers, converted tennis, indoor multi-court facilities
- Constraint: court inventory is often the limiting factor—confirm playable court counts (and noise/acoustics considerations) early
- Bid tip: ensure enough courts to protect scheduling (late starts crush satisfaction and repeat attendance)
6. Disc Golf
Disc golf has continued to scale as a parks-and-recreation win: UDisc’s 2026 disc golf growth fact sheet reports 17,287 courses in 99 countries, with 89% free to play, and 21.2 million rounds played in 2025.
On the competition side, PDGA’s 2024 Year End Demographics report shows 126,132 active members in 2024.
Planner takeaways (disc golf in 2026):
- Venue type: multi-course regions (destination clusters) outperform single-course bids for larger events
- Operations focus: tee time management, course marshals, signage, and spectator routing (disc flight paths + safety matter)
- Bid tip: consider “festival stacking” (am divisions + pro showcase + clinics) to grow room nights and sponsor value
By Dan Campana
FAQ
What are the best nontraditional sports to host for sports tourism in 2026?
Sports that scale well and travel well—OCR, pickleball, disc golf, rugby, cornhole, and roundnet—tend to be strongest because they support multi-day formats and repeatable event calendars.
Which of these sports is most limited by facility capacity?
Pickleball is often constrained by court inventory and scheduling windows. Disc golf can also be limited if the region doesn’t have enough courses to support multi-division play without congestion.
What’s the easiest nontraditional sport to add to an existing event weekend?
Cornhole and roundnet are typically easiest to add because they can run as “festival tracks” indoors or outdoors with flexible space needs.
What’s the biggest operational risk with OCR events?
Permitting, weather, and medical planning. OCR venues must manage terrain, water/mud, and participant flow safely—small misses can become big problems.
How should planners validate “growth” claims for emerging sports?
Use governing body membership data, participation reports (like SFIA), and event operator calendars. If you can’t verify a number, rely on format viability and site fit instead.
