Atlanta Hosts Major Sporting Events in 2025 

The Ultimate Destination for Sports Fans

By Demetrius Bell

Published January 20, 2025
Last Updated January 24, 2025

Atlanta is known as a major city for sporting events, and 2025 figures to be an extraordinary year for sports in Atlanta. The city is primed to host a handful of major events.

The action started immediately with Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1. As part of the New Year’s Six bowl games that make up the quarterfinals and semifinals, the road to the College Football Playoff National Championship always runs through Atlanta. The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game was played on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta. The season began with 134 schools hoping to be one of the 12 teams to participate in the Playoff. The 2024-2025 college football season ended in Atlanta, with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame.

The CFP National Championship won’t be the only time Atlanta will host a big-time college sports event. Sports fans won’t have to venture too far from Mercedes-Benz Stadium when nearby State Farm Arena hosts the South Regional of the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament. The arena in downtown Atlanta will host three games from March 28-30, with the first two being part of the Sweet 16 portion of the March Madness tournament and the final game featuring two of the Elite Eight. The winner of the Elite Eight games goes on to the Final Four, so Atlanta plays a significant role in determining the 2025 college basketball championship.

While the FIFA Men’s World Cup doesn’t happen until next year, 2025 is still a massive year for soccer in Atlanta. The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world’s best pro soccer clubs gather in the United States in a tournament that will determine the undisputed World Champion. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will host two Round-of-16 games and one quarterfinal game. On June 16, Manchester City, winners of the 2022-23 European Treble, will play what is known as a group stage game here. Two days later, 2021 UEFA Champions League winner Chelsea will take its turn in the stadium, and then on June 19, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play another group stage game. This is a rare chance to see some of the best soccer teams in the world playing in tournament action, so it’s an event that must be seen and experienced to be believed.

Following Atlanta’s “dress rehearsal” for the 2026 World Cup comes an event that Atlanta has plenty of experience hosting. The Atlanta Braves will host Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game for the third time. There will be plenty of festivities surrounding the summer showcase event for baseball, with the Home Run Derby taking place on July 14, ahead of July 15, when the All-Star game, including baseball’s absolute best talent, occurs at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves  With the Braves being one of baseball’s most popular teams, it’s also safe to assume that the Braves will have team members playing for the National League as they battle with the American League. Truist Park at The Battery is a fantastic venue for major events, and Atlanta will be well-represented, with the attention of the entire baseball world watching for two nights. 

Once the end of August rolls around, football season kicks off again, and as in any given season, Atlanta will be the city delivering plenty of big college football games. The annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge Kickoff game will see Southern University take on North Carolina Central at Center Parc Stadium on August 23. One week later, on Aug. 30, the Aflac Kickoff Game will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when the Tennessee Volunteers take on the Syracuse Orange. Once the regular season has finished, the focus will once again move to Atlanta as the SEC Championship Game will crown the SEC conference champion, and the annual Cricket Celebration Bowl will determine the HBCU National Champion, both hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 2025-2026 season will continue in Atlanta with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which will be a semifinal playoff game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026. From the very start of the year to the very end, college football is always a significant player in Atlanta’s sports calendar. 

Once the end of August rolls around, it’ll be football season again, and as in any given season, Atlanta will be the city delivering plenty of big college football games. The annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge Kickoff game will see Southern University take on North Carolina Central at Center Parc Stadium on Aug. 23. One week later, on Aug. 30, the Aflac Kickoff Game will take place when the Tennessee Volunteers take on the Syracuse Orange. Once the regular season has finished, the focus will once again move to Atlanta as the SEC Championship Game will crown the SEC conference champion, and the annual Cricket Celebration Bowl will determine the HBCU National Champion, both hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The 2025-2026 season will continue in Atlanta with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which will be a semifinal playoff game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 9, 2026. From the very start of the year to the very end, college football is always a significant player in Atlanta’s sports calendar. 

All in all, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark sports year for Atlanta. The city has already proven on numerous occasions that it’s one of the most important sporting cities, not just at the national level but also on a global scale. Atlanta is used to hosting some of the biggest events in sports, and while Atlanta will undoubtedly have its hands full with a jam-packed calendar in 2025, there’s no doubt that this city will deliver and put on a great show for the entire sports world to see.

Check out our calendar of events for more sporting events in Atlanta in 2025.