Montreal to host third stop of Olympic Q-Series for LA 2028
Updated: July 8, 2026
In 2028, the road to Los Angeles will go through Montreal.
Just over a month before the LA 2028 Olympic Games begin, Canada’s first Olympic host city will welcome approximately 500 athletes from around the world who are seeking to secure their spots at the world’s biggest sporting event.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that Montreal will be the third of four stops for the Olympic Q-Series (formerly called the Olympic Qualifier Series) in the spring of 2028.
The announcement comes as the city nears the 50th anniversary of hosting the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. The Olympic Q-Series will be a major event for the Olympic Park, which has been undergoing revitalization and transformation, as well as an opportunity for Team Canada athletes to experience a home crowd cheering them on as they work towards qualifying for the first Olympic Summer Games to take place in North America in three decades.
What is the Olympic Q-Series?
The Olympic Q-Series brings together multiple sports in compact, festival-style urban settings that deliver the highest levels of competition.
The concept of an Olympic Qualifier Series was first introduced for Paris 2024. It was a two-stop series hosted in Shanghai and Budapest via which athletes could qualify for the Games in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and climbing. There were 158 athletes who earned their spots at Paris 2024 via the Olympic Qualifier Series.
For LA 2028, the Olympic Q-Series has expanded to four stops, with Olympic spots up for grabs once again in BMX freestyle, skateboarding (park), and climbing (boulder, lead, and speed), as well as in 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, and flag football.
When and where will the 2028 Olympic Q-Series take place?
Each Olympic Q-Series stop will take place over four days, creating a celebration of sport, arts, and youth culture. The event in Montreal is expected to include close to 2000 participants, including 500 athletes, and approximately 70,000 spectators.
The Olympic Q-Series will begin May 4-7, 2028 with a stop in Tokyo. It then heads to Shanghai for May 11-14, 2028.
Montreal will host the third stop, June 1-4, 2028. The Olympic Q-Series will conclude June 8-11, 2028 in Orlando, Florida.
What sports will be featured at the Olympic Q-Series in Montreal?
Although there are six sports for which the Olympic Q-Series is a primary pathway to LA 2028, not all of them will be contested at each of the four stops.
On July 8, 2026, the IOC confirmed that the sport program for the Montreal stop would include beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, flag football, and skateboarding (park).
Montreal has become a renowned stop on the Beach Pro Tour circuit and will host another Elite16 tournament in August 2026. Canada will have host country berths for each gender for the Olympic Q-Series, meaning there are even more chances for Canadian beach volleyball teams to qualify for LA 2028, if the country hasn’t yet qualified the maximum quotas.
LA 2028 will be the third Olympic Games to feature BMX freestyle. Canada qualified its first competitor in the discipline for Paris 2024, where Jeffrey Whaley competed in the men’s event.
Skateboarding is also set for its third Olympic appearance and a qualifying event at home will hopefully be a boost for the Canadian skaters looking to secure their Olympic spots.
Flag football will be making its Olympic debut at LA 2028. Three teams of each gender will qualify via the Olympic Q-Series.
As for the other three stops of the Olympic Q-Series, Tokyo will include 3×3 basketball, BMX freestyle, climbing, and skateboarding (park and street). Shanghai will include 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, and climbing. Orlando will include flag football, beach volleyball, climbing, and skateboarding (park).
Why is Montreal hosting an Olympic Q-Series stop?
As Canada’s first Olympic host city, Montreal is positioning itself as a global leader in hosting innovative, youth-driven Olympic sport, aligned with the city’s creativity, diversity, and international reputation. There are tangible benefits for Montrealers, including increased tourism and global visibility.
The successful bid for an Olympic Q-Series stop is the result of great collaborative work dating back to 2024 between the Canadian Olympic Committee, the City of Montreal, and Tourisme Montreal. The effort showcased that Montreal has all the assets needed to host an event of this scale, including the infrastructure and expertise from organizing other major events.
The Olympic Q-Series is set to be a defining moment marking the return of the Olympic Movement to Montreal.
