The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled the schedule for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, marking the first time in nearly three decades that the Summer Games will return to U.S. soil.
The excitement has been steadily building since 2017, when IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that after Tokyo 2020, the Olympic torch would land in Paris for 2024 and then in Los Angeles for 2028. Now, with the official dates locked in, both American and global audiences have a timeline to rally around.
According to the announcement, the Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, with a unique split between two iconic venues, the historic LA Memorial Coliseum and the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Games will officially conclude with the Closing Ceremony on July 30 at the Coliseum.
In a notable scheduling shift, athletics (track and field), traditionally held in the second week, will now open the first week of competition, while swimming will take over the second.
As confirmed by the Track & Field Gazette via X (formerly Twitter), athletics events will run from July 15 to 24, with additional medal events on July 27, 29, and 30.
That means stars like Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson, Kenny Bednarek, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will take to the track early in the Games. While the detailed event-by-event schedule hasn’t been released yet, projections based on the Paris 2024 format suggest the men’s 100m final could land on July 18 (Day 4), the 200m final on July 22 (Day 8), and the 400m hurdles final on July 23 (Day 9).
Fans are already speculating about potential history in the making, especially with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone poised to possibly lower her own world record in the 400m hurdles within this window.
Another date to watch will be the U.S. Olympic Track Trials, traditionally held 6 to 8 weeks before the Games. Expected in early to mid-June 2028 in Los Angeles, the Trials will serve as a high-stakes prelude, offering athletes like Noah Lyles another chance to cement their Olympic dreams on home soil.
With the official LA28 dates now public, anticipation has reached fever pitch as the City of Angels prepares to welcome the world for an unforgettable celebration of sport.