The Olympic Q-Series is coming to Orlando in 2028, and it’s a big deal for our city.
The International Olympic Committee announced this week that Orlando has been selected as one of four global host cities for the expanded Olympic Q-Series, the premier qualifying event on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Orlando joins Tokyo, Shanghai, and Montreal, which is genuinely remarkable company for any city to be in.
For those of us who call Central Florida home, this is one of those moments that reminds you what kind of city Orlando has quietly become. Here’s everything you need to know!
What Is the Olympic Q-Series Coming to Orlando?
The Olympic Q-Series, previously called the Olympic Qualifier Series, is a multi-sport qualifying event that serves as a central pathway for athletes trying to earn spots at the Olympic Games. The IOC has designed it as a full festival experience: sport, music, and culture converging in iconic cities, fast-paced and high-energy, with a major focus on youth engagement and global fan reach.
The athletes competing at the Olympics Orlando 2028 qualifying event will be among the best in the world, competing for direct quota places to the Games just weeks before the opening ceremony.
The series kicks off in Asia in May 2028 before crossing the Pacific to North America in June, with Orlando serving as the fourth and final stop, the last chapter in the road to LA28.
Sources: IOC, USOPC, CF Public Radio — May 2026
What Sports Will the Orlando Olympic Q-Series Feature?
Six sports are confirmed for the LA28 Orlando Q-Series overall, though the specific sports assigned to each individual city stop, including Orlando, haven’t been announced yet. That announcement is expected from the IOC at a later date.
What we do know is the full lineup of sports in play. All six reflect the IOC’s deliberate shift toward action sports and youth-oriented disciplines that have driven some of the most-watched moments at recent Olympics.
Flag football is worth calling out specifically. Its addition to the LA28 Olympic program has already generated enormous anticipation across the U.S., and Orlando’s built-in fan base for the sport makes it one of the most exciting potential inclusions for our city’s stop.
Where in Orlando Will the Olympic Q-Series Be Held?
The Orlando stop of the Olympic Q-Series 2028 will be held at Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando. The stadium is currently in the middle of a $400 million renovation, one of the largest venue upgrades in Central Florida history. Construction is on track for completion before the Jacksonville Jaguars play here in 2027, which means Orlando will have a freshly renovated, world-class venue ready and waiting when the Olympic Q-Series arrives in June 2028.
Camping World Stadium sits right in the heart of downtown Orlando, easily accessible via Interstate 4 and well-served by parking infrastructure throughout the surrounding area. For Orlando residents, it’s one of the more convenient major venue experiences in the city.
How Orlando Won the Olympic Q-Series Bid
Selections like this don’t happen by accident. Orange County stepped up early, approving $15 million in tourist development tax funding to cover event-related operational costs: staffing, security, public safety, and the logistics that go into hosting a global sporting event of this scale.
The Greater Orlando Sports Commission led the bid effort, and the result reflects years of deliberate work to position Central Florida as a legitimate international sports destination. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings called it a moment for Orlando to shine on the global stage, and the numbers back that up. The Orlando area welcomed a record 76.7 million visitors in 2025. That’s the foundation the IOC was looking at when they made this decision.
Sources: IOC, WDW News Today, CF Public Radio — May 2026
What Makes Orlando's Stop Special: The Final Chapter of the Road to LA28
Out of the four Q-Series cities, Orlando has a unique position. We’re the closing act. The fourth and final stop of the entire series. The last event before the world’s gaze turns to Los Angeles for the Games themselves.
That means the athletes competing in Orlando in June 2028 will be doing so with the highest possible stakes: final qualifying spots on the line, LA28 just around the corner, and every major sports media outlet watching. It’s the kind of competitive intensity that makes for extraordinary sport to watch in person.
And for Orlando as a city, being that final chapter on the road to the biggest sporting event on earth is a statement. Not just for the week of June 8–11, but for how the world sees us going forward!
Everything Orlando Residents Need to Know Right Now
- Dates: The Olympic Q-Series Orlando stop runs June 8–11, 2028. Save those dates, it’s two years away but they’ll come around fast!
- Venue: Camping World Stadium, downtown Orlando, currently undergoing its $400 million renovation
- Sports lineup: Orlando’s specific sports haven’t been confirmed yet, the IOC will announce the program for each stop at a later date
- Tickets: No ticket information has been released yet, follow the IOC and Greater Orlando Sports Commission for updates as they come
- Flag football: One of the most anticipated new Olympic sports for U.S. audiences, Orlando could be the perfect venue for it
- What to expect: The Q-Series is designed as a festival experience, not just sport but music and culture alongside the competition. Think big event energy throughout the city for the full four days
- Context: LA28 begins in late July 2028, the Orlando Q-Series is just weeks before the Games, meaning the Olympic energy in this city will be at an all-time high that entire summer
The Bottom Line for Orlando in 2028
The Olympic Q-Series coming to Orlando is genuinely exciting news for our community! Being selected alongside three of the world’s most storied sports cities, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Montreal, to host the road to the LA28 Olympics is a reflection of everything Central Florida has worked toward over the past two decades.
For Orlando residents, June 2028 is going to be something to experience. World-class athletes, six cutting-edge sports, a freshly renovated stadium, and the electricity of knowing that the Olympic Games are just around the corner. Mark the calendar, June 8 through 11, 2028!
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