DOHA : The 12th edition of the Ramadan Sports Festival 2026, organised by Aspire Zone Foundation, will kick off on Sunday, reinforcing its status as one of the State of Qatar’s leading Ramadan sporting events.
The festival runs from Feb. 22 to March 6, from 8 p.m. until midnight each day, across multiple facilities within Aspire Zone. It is held as part of the foundation’s strategy to promote physical activity and encourage a healthy lifestyle during the holy month.
Spanning 12 consecutive days, the programme features 11 sports and fitness events catering to various age groups and interests. Competitions include the “Embassies” and “Aspetar” football tournaments, men’s, women’s and junior basketball, table tennis for people with special needs, swimming at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, the Aspire Academy Beach Volleyball Championship, women’s padel and women’s futsal.
The schedule also includes the Family Night Race, organised in cooperation with the Qatar Sports for All Federation at Aspire Park, adding a community-focused dimension that promotes family participation.
The opening phase will feature the “Embassies” football tournament on Field No. 5 from Feb. 22 to March 6, with 24 teams divided into eight groups representing diverse national communities. Group matches run until March 1, followed by the round of 16 on March 2-3, quarter-finals on March 4, semi-finals on March 5 and the final on March 6.
On the opening night, South America face Tanzania at 9 p.m., South Africa meet Spain at 10 p.m., and Chad take on Jordan at 11 p.m.
Nasser Abdullah Al-Hajri, Chief Marketing Officer of Aspire Zone Foundation, said the 12th consecutive edition reflects the event’s sustained success.
“At Aspire Zone Foundation, we are proud that the Ramadan Sports Festival has become an annual event that brings together different segments of society in a sophisticated sporting atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the holy month,” he said.
He added that this year’s diverse programme aims to broaden participation among men, women, youth, people with special needs and families, underscoring the foundation’s vision of sport as a unifying platform that promotes community and human values.
Aspire Zone said it remains committed to delivering a comprehensive sporting environment through high-quality infrastructure and organisation, ensuring a distinctive experience for participants and spectators alike while strengthening the festival’s place on Qatar’s Ramadan sporting calendar.
