The National Sports Commission (NSC) has fixed November 27 to December 11, 2026, for the 21st National Sports Festival, tagged the “Coal City Games,” in Enugu State.

The Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, announced the dates during the first meeting of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) held in Abuja.

According to the approved schedule, state delegations are expected to arrive on November 25 and 26. The opening ceremony is slated for November 27, while the closing ceremony will take place on December 11.

Olopade described the timeline as “sacrosanct,” noting that the dates were finalized following high-level consultations with the Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Peter Mbah.

”I must commend Governor Mbah for his tremendous enthusiasm and the pace at which facilities are being constructed for the Games,” Olopade said yesterday. “This is highly commendable and underscores the state’s readiness.”

The Director General further stated that the 2026 edition is poised to become the most well-funded festival in Nigeria’s history. He credited the lead sponsor, Premium Trust Bank, for making a “historic contribution” to the event. Olopade expressed confidence that the Coal City Games would surpass the standards set by the previous edition held in Abeokuta.

In line with the NSC’s “RHINSE” reform agenda, which aims to reduce the financial burden on participating states, the Commission has capped the number of sports at 20.

This includes 15 compulsory sports and five optional sports chosen by the host state.

The compulsory sports scheduled for the Enugu Games include Athletics (including Para-Athletics), Badminton (including Para-Badminton), Basketball (including Wheelchair Basketball), Boxing, Cycling, Football, Judo, Gymnastics, Swimming, Table Tennis (including Para-Table Tennis), Tennis, Taekwondo, Mixed Martial Arts, Weightlifting (including Para-Powerlifting), and Wrestling. (The Nation)

Update news