The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will showcase more than 40 local venues across 36 sports, and two of the most popular sports, surfing and indoor volleyball, will take place in Orange County.
For LA28’s surfing events, San Clemente’s coastline — specifically, Lower Trestles — will take the Olympic spotlight.
The world’s elite surfers will try to catch the waves that win gold at the spot along the Southern California coastline that has long been a surfing sanctuary for locals.
“It’s the best spot,” one local surfer told NBC Los Angeles.
The Universal Studios lot will host the sport of Squash in LA28. Karma Dickerson reports for NBC4 at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026.
Less than 10 miles north of Trestles is Dana Point Harbor, which is going through a major transformation ahead of the 2028 Summer Games.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley said Orange County will turn heads during LA28.
“We have state of the art docks — so people can come in on their boats, which we expect will happen — and then we will also have all the commercial core done; a lot of great fine dining and fun restaurants,” Foley explained. “We’re trying to have this great vibe with the hotels that’s our own little seaside Olympic Village.”
La crosse will also be a sport to be played at the Inglewood stadium. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.
Anaheim is also preparing to stun on the world stage. There, a massive, $1 billion entertainment district dubbed OCVIBE is under construction next door to the Honda Center, the venue where LA28 indoor volleyball matches will be played.
OCVIBE will include Katella Commons, a two-story market hall featuring 21 food stalls and six new bar and lounge concepts. The market is expected to debut in early 2027, and the rest of the district should be completed just in time for the 2028 Summer Games.
“It’s perfect timing; we definitely have Olympic fever,” Morell Marean, OCVIBE COO told NBCLA. “It’s really a global moment.”
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken can’t wait to see Anaheim take center stage.
“As a girl that was born and raised in Anaheim, to have Anaheim on a worldwide stage — to welcome everyone into our community — such a privilege and honor,” Aitken said.
Venice was initially left out until Councilmember Traci Park pushed for the Westside neighborhood to be included. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
First impressions count, and when visitors fly into Orange County for the 2028 Olympics, they’ll also see a new and improved John Wayne Airport.
LA28 will not be Orange County’s Olympic debut.
At the 1984 Olympics, several local venues hosted competitions. This included the Anaheim Convention Center, which was the venue for wrestling, and Cal State Fullerton, which hosted handball.
When are the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
The Olympics will return to Los Angeles for an historic third time in 2028.
The LA 2028 Olympics Opening Ceremony is July 14, 2028 with competition through July 30, 2028. The LA28 Paralympic Games will kick off Aug. 15, 2028 and close Aug. 27, 2028.
The organizing committee has released a first look at the competition schedule. Field hockey, basketball, rugby sevens, water polo, handball and cricket will be the first sports to kick off the competition on July 12, two days before the Opening Ceremony.
The first full date of competition, designated Day 1, is July 15. The order of events includes a twist for 2028 with track and field and swimming swapping their typical schedules. Track and field will compete at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first week of the Olympics schedule with swimming moving to the second week at SoFi Stadium.
The marathons will still be on the final weekend.
The first medal will be awarded in triathlon on Day 1 in Venice Beach. July 29, or Day 15, will be the busiest day on the podium with 16 gold and bronze events in team sports and 19 individual medal events.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host the opening ceremony in a duel-venue celebration. The Paralympic opening ceremony will be at SoFi Stadium with the closing ceremony at the Coliseum.