Lagos, Nigeria, has earned a spot in the latest top sports cities ranking, placing 90th worldwide according to Burson’s 2026 global report.
The annual ranking identifies the top 100 cities worldwide with the strongest association with sport.
Now in its 15th edition, it is based on both perception and in-depth quantitative analysis, including feedback from international sports leaders, sports media representatives, and industry experts, as well as social media and media coverage analytics.
How Lagos Retained its Elite Global Listing
Lagos has consistently hosted major and growing sports like the World Athletics Gold Label Race, Lagos City Marathon, the premier table tennis event in Africa, World Table Tennis Contender, several international tennis events, and the rise of private football clubs in Lagos (the highest in the country) playing in the top two divisions. Fencing, squash, and other sports are also on offer.
Each sporting event hosted by Lagos continues to grow in labels and international stature, attracting elite athletes.
Lagos City Marathon grew to Gold Label while the Table Tennis classic became a World Table Tennis Contender.
2026 Top Sports Cities Ranking: Lagos Sports Experience
The ranking shows that a single event rarely defines the world’s leading sports cities. Rather, they earn their position by resident clubs, recurring international competitions, and continuous engagement with the global sports community, a concept the chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lakan Fatodu, says is his administration’s goal.
“It reflects the steps that the Lagos State Sports Commission is taking in line with its mandate to promote mass participation in all sports. We know that many people in Lagos State have interest in other sports, so we are looking forward to how Lagos State will collaborate with private sector players, institutions like embassies, and other countries to partner with us so that we can unlock potential and opportunities in other sports.”
“In another way, we are actually doing the work of diplomacy for Nigeria, which is big, and this is coming through the instrumentality of sports. So, we should be able to let everyone know that beyond the hobby and money available, it’s also a powerful tool of diplomacy and a powerful tool of international public relations for the country.”
Together, the indicators provide a comprehensive view of how cities build visibility and influence through sport.
“Hosting matters, but the 2026 Ranking of Sports Cities shows that reputation is no longer built around a single event. The cities rising fastest are those that combine major events with long-term investment, emerging sports and strong connections to the global sports community. The winners are not always the loudest cities, but those who stay connected to the global sport conversation throughout the year.” said Greg Curchod, Senior Client Lead EMEA at Burson Switzerland.
Lagos’ 90th position makes it the third-best sports city in Africa, after Cairo (69) and Cape Town (85). Only four African countries made the top 100 list.