{
 "verified": "2026-10-26",
 "note": "Confirmed dates come from organizers; provisional rows cite secondary or unconfirmed sources and need rechecking.",
 "events": [
  {
   "id": "pl-2627",
   "sport": "football",
   "title": "Premier League 2026/27",
   "start": "2026-08-21",
   "end": "2027-05-30",
   "place": "England and Wales",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4468487/dates-for-202627-premier-league-season-confirmed",
   "source_name": "Premier League",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 14,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Matchweek previews / FAQ",
   "notes": "Season dates confirmed; individual fixtures move for broadcast, so check each match before publishing."
  },
  {
   "id": "ucl-league",
   "sport": "football",
   "title": "Champions League league phase",
   "start": "2026-09-08",
   "end": "2027-01-27",
   "place": "Europe",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000/",
   "source_name": "UEFA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 10,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Matchday guides",
   "notes": "UEFA says dates are subject to change."
  },
  {
   "id": "ucl-r16",
   "sport": "football",
   "title": "Champions League round of 16",
   "start": "2027-03-09",
   "end": "2027-03-17",
   "place": "Europe",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000/",
   "source_name": "UEFA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 14,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Tie previews",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "ucl-final",
   "sport": "football",
   "title": "Champions League final",
   "start": "2027-06-05",
   "end": "2027-06-05",
   "place": "Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a6-20d57cfcd03e-407c22a7f465-1000/",
   "source_name": "UEFA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 28,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Final guide / FAQ",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "bbl16",
   "sport": "cricket",
   "title": "BBL|16 (Australian fixtures)",
   "start": "2026-12-15",
   "end": "2027-01-26",
   "place": "Australia",
   "markets": [
    "au",
    "gb"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4534480/bbl16-big-bash-league-season-schedule-fixture-announced-dates-chennai-christmas-eve-canberra-melbourne-sydney-perth-launceston",
   "source_name": "cricket.com.au",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 14,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Season guide",
   "notes": "Season opens December 12 outside Australia; tracked here from the first Australian fixture on December 15."
  },
  {
   "id": "wtc-final",
   "sport": "cricket",
   "title": "World Test Championship final",
   "start": "2027-06-09",
   "end": "2027-06-13",
   "place": "The Oval, London",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/england-unveil-schedule-for-blockbuster-2027-home-summer",
   "source_name": "ICC",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Final preview",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "ashes-2027",
   "sport": "cricket",
   "title": "Men’s Ashes in England",
   "start": "2027-06-18",
   "end": "2027-08-02",
   "place": "England",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/england-unveil-schedule-for-blockbuster-2027-home-summer",
   "source_name": "ICC",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 28,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Series hub / Test guides",
   "notes": "Five Tests: Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Edgbaston, Rose Bowl, The Oval."
  },
  {
   "id": "cwc-2027",
   "sport": "cricket",
   "title": "Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027",
   "start": "2027-10-02",
   "end": "2027-11-21",
   "place": "South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/icc-men-s-cricket-world-cup-2027-schedule-revealed-and-ballot-system-opens",
   "source_name": "ICC",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 28,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Tournament hub",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "nba-season",
   "sport": "basketball",
   "title": "NBA regular season 2026-27",
   "start": "2026-10-20",
   "end": "2027-04-11",
   "place": "United States and Canada",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://pr.nba.com/2026-27-nba-regular-season-schedule/",
   "source_name": "NBA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 7,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Season guide",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "nba-cup",
   "sport": "basketball",
   "title": "NBA Cup championship",
   "start": "2026-12-11",
   "end": "2026-12-11",
   "place": "United States",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://pr.nba.com/2026-27-nba-regular-season-schedule/",
   "source_name": "NBA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 10,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Final preview",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "nba-allstar",
   "sport": "basketball",
   "title": "NBA All-Star weekend",
   "start": "2027-02-19",
   "end": "2027-02-21",
   "place": "Phoenix",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://pr.nba.com/2026-27-nba-regular-season-schedule/",
   "source_name": "NBA",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 10,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Low",
   "asset": "Event explainer",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "nba-playoffs",
   "sport": "basketball",
   "title": "NBA playoffs (Finals in June, dates TBC)",
   "start": "2027-04-17",
   "end": "2027-06-30",
   "place": "United States and Canada",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.nbcmiami.com/nba/nba-key-dates-2026-27-opening-night-trade-deadline-finals/3844093/",
   "source_name": "NBC Miami (secondary)",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 14,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Series guides",
   "notes": "Playoffs start April 17. The bar runs to the end of June only because the league has said the Finals are in June; no Finals dates are published."
  },
  {
   "id": "ao-2027",
   "sport": "tennis",
   "title": "Australian Open 2027",
   "start": "2027-01-17",
   "end": "2027-01-31",
   "place": "Melbourne Park",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://ausopen.com/articles/news/australian-open-2027-dates-announced",
   "source_name": "Australian Open",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Tournament guide",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "rg-2027",
   "sport": "tennis",
   "title": "Roland-Garros 2027",
   "start": "2027-05-17",
   "end": "2027-06-06",
   "place": "Paris",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/grand-slam/roland-garros/news/2027/what-is-the-schedule/",
   "source_name": "LTA (provisional schedule)",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Tournament guide",
   "notes": "Qualifying from May 17; main draw from May 23. Confirm on the official tournament site."
  },
  {
   "id": "wim-2027",
   "sport": "tennis",
   "title": "Wimbledon 2027",
   "start": "2027-06-28",
   "end": "2027-07-11",
   "place": "London",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.lta.org.uk/fan-zone/wimbledon-championships/news/preview-player-list-draw-order-of-play-scores-and-how-to-watch",
   "source_name": "LTA (to confirm)",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Tournament guide",
   "notes": "Confirm on the official Wimbledon site."
  },
  {
   "id": "uso-2027",
   "sport": "tennis",
   "title": "US Open 2027",
   "start": "2027-08-30",
   "end": "2027-09-12",
   "place": "New York",
   "markets": [
    "gb",
    "us",
    "ca",
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.basket-mag.com/us/us-open-2027-dates-tickets-prices/",
   "source_name": "Secondary report",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Tournament guide",
   "notes": "Not yet confirmed by an official source."
  },
  {
   "id": "nfl-2026",
   "sport": "us-sports",
   "title": "NFL regular season 2026",
   "start": "2026-09-09",
   "end": "2027-01-10",
   "place": "United States",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-game/2026-nfl-schedule-announced/",
   "source_name": "NFL Football Operations",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 7,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Week previews",
   "notes": "Opens September 9; Week 18 ends January 10, 2027."
  },
  {
   "id": "sb-lxi",
   "sport": "us-sports",
   "title": "Super Bowl LXI",
   "start": "2027-02-14",
   "end": "2027-02-14",
   "place": "SoFi Stadium, Inglewood",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-game/2026-nfl-schedule-announced/",
   "source_name": "NFL Football Operations",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 28,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Game guide / FAQ",
   "notes": "Sunday February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium."
  },
  {
   "id": "nhl-season",
   "sport": "us-sports",
   "title": "NHL regular season 2026-27",
   "start": "2026-09-29",
   "end": "2027-04-10",
   "place": "United States and Canada",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-releases-2026-27-regular-season-schedule",
   "source_name": "NHL",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 7,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Season guide",
   "notes": "84 games per team."
  },
  {
   "id": "nhl-winter",
   "sport": "us-sports",
   "title": "NHL Winter Classic",
   "start": "2026-12-31",
   "end": "2026-12-31",
   "place": "Utah",
   "markets": [
    "us",
    "ca"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-releases-2026-27-regular-season-schedule",
   "source_name": "NHL",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 10,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Low",
   "asset": "Event explainer",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "mlb-ws",
   "sport": "us-sports",
   "title": "MLB World Series 2026",
   "start": "2026-10-23",
   "end": "2026-10-31",
   "place": "Milwaukee and Tampa Bay",
   "markets": [
    "us"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-announces-2026-postseason-schedule",
   "source_name": "MLB",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 7,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Series recap",
   "notes": "Game 7 on October 31 only if needed."
  },
  {
   "id": "mel-cup",
   "sport": "racing",
   "title": "Melbourne Cup 2026",
   "start": "2026-11-03",
   "end": "2026-11-03",
   "place": "Flemington, Melbourne",
   "markets": [
    "au"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.vrc.com.au/race-days-and-events/2026-2027/lexus-melbourne-cup-day/",
   "source_name": "Victoria Racing Club",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Race guide",
   "notes": ""
  },
  {
   "id": "cheltenham",
   "sport": "racing",
   "title": "Cheltenham Festival 2027",
   "start": "2027-03-16",
   "end": "2027-03-19",
   "place": "Cheltenham",
   "markets": [
    "gb"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham-festival/plan-your-day/when-and-what-time",
   "source_name": "The Jockey Club",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 28,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Festival hub / day guides",
   "notes": "Gold Cup on Friday March 19."
  },
  {
   "id": "national",
   "sport": "racing",
   "title": "Grand National Festival 2027",
   "start": "2027-04-08",
   "end": "2027-04-10",
   "place": "Aintree",
   "markets": [
    "gb"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/the-grand-national/about-the-event/when-what-time-is-it/",
   "source_name": "The Jockey Club (to confirm)",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Race guide",
   "notes": "Grand National traditionally on the Saturday."
  },
  {
   "id": "derby",
   "sport": "racing",
   "title": "Kentucky Derby 153",
   "start": "2027-05-01",
   "end": "2027-05-01",
   "place": "Churchill Downs, Louisville",
   "markets": [
    "us"
   ],
   "source": "https://www.churchilldowns.com/horses/news/churchill-downs-news-release-kentucky-derby-153-tickets-available-for-purchase-today-at-noon/",
   "source_name": "Churchill Downs",
   "status": "confirmed",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "High",
   "asset": "Race guide",
   "notes": "Kentucky Oaks on April 30."
  },
  {
   "id": "ascot",
   "sport": "racing",
   "title": "Royal Ascot 2027 (opening day)",
   "start": "2027-06-15",
   "end": "2027-06-15",
   "place": "Ascot",
   "markets": [
    "gb"
   ],
   "source": "https://highcliffecoaches.rezdy.com/770830/royal-ascot-opening-day-tue-15th-june-2027",
   "source_name": "Secondary listing",
   "status": "provisional",
   "lead": 21,
   "tail": 2,
   "priority": "Medium",
   "asset": "Meeting guide",
   "notes": "Opening day June 15 from a secondary listing; the five-day meeting dates need confirming on the official Ascot site."
  }
 ]
}