Special Olympics USA Games Set to Illuminate Minneapolis

As Minneapolis prepares to welcome more than 3,000 athletes from across the country, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games promise a weeklong celebration of inclusion, athleticism, and community.

</div>

A National Gathering of Ability and Inclusion

Launching on Saturday, June 20, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will bring together more than 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches from all 50 states to compete in 16 Olympic-style team and individual sports . The weeklong event, set to run through Friday, June 26, is expected to draw approximately 75,000 fans to venues across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities . With competitions hosted at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine, the event spans premier facilities in the region .

Opening Ceremony: A Celebration in Full Bloom

The Games will officially begin with a two-and-a-half-hour Opening Ceremony on June 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota, starting at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. . The evening will feature a Parade of Athletes representing all 52 delegations, the lighting of the Games’ cauldron via the culmination of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and performances by Demi Lovato and Jon Batiste . This spectacle is designed both to honor athletic achievement and underscore the spirit of inclusion that defines the Special Olympics movement.