Mediterranean Games 2026 opening ceremony sold out amid funding disputes in Italy

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto was declared sold out. Organized by the event committee, 6,500 tickets were sold on the first day of sales, and all tickets for the ceremony on 21 August at the newly refurbished Iacovone stadium were fully booked. The Games will run from 21 August to 3 September, featuring about 4,500 athletes and 1,700 officials, with tickets priced in three categories ranging from €15 to €40.

Meanwhile, the nearby town of Oria, which boasts newly renovated sports facilities, was excluded from the central government's roughly €300 million allocation for the Games. Local officials criticised the decision, noting that Oria’s arena and stadium were ready to host events despite not receiving funding, while the programme distributes resources across cities such as Taranto, Brindisi, Francavilla Fontana and others.