Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games near opening as infrastructure wraps up and ticket sales surge

The preparation for the XX Mediterranean Games in Taranto is entering its final phase. Organiser Massimo Ferrarese said that major construction works – Olympic‑size swimming pools, the Erasmo Iacovone stadium, an outdoor athletics track, an indoor arena, a skatepark, tennis and padel courts, the new urban park Salinella and related facilities – are close to completion, with most projects finished within 22 months since the 2024 decree.

Ticket sales for the opening ceremony on 21 August 2026 have already exceeded expectations: more than 6,500 tickets were sold in the first 24 hours after the official launch, indicating strong public interest. A second phase of ticketing for the closing ceremony on 3 September 2026 has also begun, with three pricing categories ranging from €10 to €20.

On 29 June, the organisers presented the official Games medals and the first promotional TV spot at the Jonian Department of the University of Bari. The event, attended by Ferrarese, International Games Committee president Mehrez Boussayene, sports minister Andrea Abodi, European affairs minister Tommaso Foti, CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio, Puglia regional president Antonio Decaro and Taranto mayor Pietro Bitetti, marked the 50‑day countdown to the opening ceremony. The Games will run from 21 August to 3 September 2026, bringing thousands of athletes from Mediterranean countries to the city.