Sports & Events in Kelowna

Named Canada’s top mid-size city for sport hosting by Sport Tourism Canada in 2019 and 2020, Kelowna is renowned for its welcoming hospitality, stunning landscape, and first-rate facilities. See why you should choose Kelowna for your next event.

Why Choose Kelowna?

We are a sought-after travel destination of choice in Canada.

Hosting your sports event in the Okanagan Valley’s largest city, home to more than 220,000 residents in the metro area, means your athletes and coaches, as well as their family and friends, will not only have access to all the amenities and services they need, but will also have plenty of activities and attractions to choose from in their down time. Kelowna has an endless array of outdoor activities—think boating, paddleboarding, skiing, golfing, hiking, mountain biking—as well as more than 70 wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries to discover.

We offer an easily accessible location, with an incredible atmosphere.

Nestled against Okanagan Lake, Kelowna and the Central Okanagan offer a memorable setting to host your sports event. With direct flights from destinations across Canada and well-maintained highways, arriving from within the country is a breeze. Those travelling from further abroad will appreciate the ease of access to Kelowna International Airport (YLW), which is a short 20-minute drive from downtown Kelowna.

We have a long legacy of executing world-class events.

Kelowna is a member of Sport Tourism Canada and has an extensive hosting resume that includes local, regional, national, and international sports events. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, so coming together to execute events successfully, with the world stage in mind, is second nature. We have successfully hosted athletes and fans from all corners of the globe, so you know you’ll be in good hands when you come to compete in Kelowna.  

We are home to an array of accessible accommodations.

With its relatively small geographic footprint, all the locations you’ll need to access while in Kelowna are easily accessible—visitors and locals alike will agree that most spots can be reached within a drive of 20 minutes or less.  Regardless of budget or amenity preferences, one of the region’s more than 30 hotel properties will be able to comfortably accommodate your group. During the summer, the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus has more than 500 rooms available in a variety of configurations, offering an affordable option for sports groups and events.

We have unparalleled support from our community.

From the moment athletes arrive until they head home after the competition, our community will make sure they experience world-class hospitality every step of the way. While Kelowna has comparable access, facilities, and hosting resume to its bigger city counterparts, it is still a small city at heart. This means your event will never be lost in the shuffle and fans will turn out to make athletes shine like the stars they are. Our dedicated community of volunteers will also be ready to support your event, from start to finish.

Hosting Resume - Major Events

2023 BreakOut West Music Festival
2022 Rivalry Series - Team Canada vs Team USA
2022 Spartan North American Championship
2019 Skate Canada International
2019 BC High School Track & Field Championships
2019 BC 55+ Games
2019 Western Canadian Rugby Championship
2018 World Mixed Curling Championship
2018 BreakOut West
GolfBC Championship - Mackenzie Tour PGA Canada