2026: A landmark year for sport on the field and at Framework

2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest sporting years in recent memory. From Milan and Cortina to Glasgow, and from global football to international cricket, the calendar is stacked. And while fans will focus on medals and milestones, we’re watching the planning, governance, and financial discipline that make these moments possible.

Of course, we’ll be thoroughly enjoying all the action, too!

As such, we’d like to wish all Great Britain’s teams competing this year the very best of luck. In particular, to all the governing bodies, clubs, athletes, coaches, and volunteers with whom we work. We know how much goes into a single fixture or championship, and that the real work starts long before the national anthems.

Why sport matters so much to Framework

Sport is one of our key sectors, but it’s much more than that to our team. In fact, it’s part of who we are with so many sports enthusiasts in our ranks.

First, we have our Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gregor, a former national-level rugby player who spent seven years as Head of Operations at basketballscotland. Here, he led operational improvements, streamlined systems, and understands the pressures governing bodies face. Why? Because he’s lived them!

Then, we have Gordon Mavor, our Director of Compliance and Technical Standards, who spent over fifteen years as Head of Finance at sportscotland. He developed deep expertise in funding assurance, governance, and financial oversight across sport’s governing bodies. So, he knows exactly how public funding environments work and how they’re scrutinised.

Also, there’s Conall Bryce, Graduate Trainee Accountant at Framework. On top of this, he’s an avid sailor and outdoorsman, and currently umpires at national sailing events.

Last but not least, we have Framework Chief Executive Officer, Sean Mavor, who skied for Scotland for several years and remains a keen follower of virtually every sport.

A packed sporting year

The Winter Olympics 2026 are well underway in Milan and Cortina, with Great Britain well represented. Lilah Fear’s role carrying the Team GB flag at the opening ceremony was a proud moment, the first British ice dancer to do so since Christopher Dean at Sarajevo in 1984. It’s also worth mentioning Jon Eley, now Performance Director at British Ice Skating and himself the Sochi 2014 flag carrier, who has been helping lead and support Team GB’s skaters in preparation for the games.

The sporting calendar doesn’t ease off once the Winter Olympics wrap up.

The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup is already in full swing in India and Sri Lanka. Scotland’s late call-up landed with barely days’ notice, and they’ve already beaten Italy and faced the West Indies and England. Then, we have the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, hosted in England and Wales from June to July, which gives both England and Scotland a chance to shine closer to home.

The men’s Six Nations is also already underway, while the new Nations Championship in July and November will bring together leading rugby nations from both hemispheres, including Scotland, England, and Wales.

Also in July, Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games, placing Scottish sport under a global spotlight once again. basketballscotland, Judo Scotland and Netball Scotland are all competing in Glasgow, making it a particularly exciting summer for the Framework team. Birmingham also welcomes the European Athletics Championships in August.

And on the football front, Scotland’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup this June and July, their first in a generation, is a milestone well worth celebrating.

Of course, the women’s Six Nations and other annual staples continue through 2026, from Wimbledon to The Open, this year at Royal Birkdale, and the Formula 1 season.

So, there’s no quiet quarter in sports in 2026. And for governing bodies and clubs, there are overlapping cycles of preparation, delivery, reporting, and review. One tournament finishes as planning begins for the next, and funding returns are due while travel is being booked.

The impact of a busy sporting calendar

Major competition years bring opportunity and complexity in equal measure. And through our work with organisations like British Curling, Scottish Curling, Judo Scotland, Scottish Squash, Snowsport England, British Ice Skating, and Cricket Scotland, we understand how operational demands can intensify.

For starters, preparation costs come early, with travel, staffing, programme delivery, and compliance requirements ramping up months before events. International competitions also bring added complexity, and major events increase reporting expectations. Efficient, well-integrated financial systems in place mean organisations can meet these demands without pulling management time away from performance.

Then, there’s income, which often comes after events from grants, sponsorship, prize money, or broadcast agreements, creating a timing gap that puts real pressure on working capital. Major events also don’t automatically generate additional sponsorship, so governing bodies that budget on income not yet secured can find themselves exposed.

So, in 2026, governing bodies and club boards must balance ambition with discipline. Accurate management accounts, up-to-date cash flow forecasts, and clear visibility over funding are essential, and while leadership teams are attending events and managing a packed calendar, the day-to-day finance function still needs to run. This means everything from bookkeeping to year-end accounting preparations, invoicing, payroll, supplier payments, and debtor control, which is where having a trusted finance partner matters most.

Finding peak performance on and off the field

For 2026, the message for sports organisations is simple: plan early, and keep checking the plan. This means proper scenario planning, stress-testing budgets under different outcomes, modelling cash flow under best-case and worst-case assumptions, and making sure governance and compliance frameworks are event-ready.

It also means being ready and able to react if and when things change, whether that’s a missed flight, an unexpected cost, or a last-minute call-up. Having those strong financial foundations gives organisations the confidence to take opportunities and manage risk in the face of the unexpected.

Looking ahead

2026 will be a year of inspiration, drama, and national pride. But behind every performance, there are governing bodies, boards, and finance teams making it all possible.

And while strong governance, clear reporting, and disciplined financial management don’t feature in highlight reels, they allow organisations to operate confidently under pressure. And in a year packed with major competitions and heightened scrutiny, that foundation matters more than ever.

If you’d like to sense-check your plans for 2026 or 2027, or ensure your financial structures are ready for both opportunity and uncertainty, we would be delighted to talk.