The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that the 2026 National Sports Festival, tagged Coal City Games, will hold from November 27 to December 11, 2026.
The Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, made this known on Thursday during the first Main Organising Committee (MOC) meeting for the Games held in Abuja.
He said athletes and officials will arrive between November 25 and 26, while the opening ceremony is scheduled for November 27 and the Games will officially close on December 11, 2026, stressing that the dates remain sacrosanct.
Olopade disclosed that the final dates were agreed upon following a productive engagement with the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, whom he praised for his commitment to the success of the event.
He commended the governor for the rapid development of sports facilities across the state, describing the effort as highly commendable.
The NSC Director-General expressed confidence that the Coal City Games would set a new standard as the best-sponsored and best-funded edition in the history of the National Sports Festival.
He noted that while the Gateway Games in Abeokuta were widely regarded as the best so far, Enugu is on course to surpass that record with a better organised and better funded edition, supported by main sponsor Premium Trust Bank.
Olopade also explained that, under the NSC’s RHINSE reform agenda, the number of sports has been reduced to 20, comprising 15 compulsory sports and five additional events to be chosen by the host state.
