Wales may be a small country, but when it comes to sport, it rarely feels like one.
From packed rugby weekends in Cardiff to race days at Chepstow and football internationals that bring the country to a standstill, there are certain sporting occasions Welsh fans circle on the calendar every year.
Some are about trophies. Others are just as much about the atmosphere, the day out and having an excuse to get together with friends.
Here are some of the biggest.
The Six Nations
You can’t really talk about Welsh sport without starting with rugby.
The Six Nations remains one of the highlights of the year, particularly when Wales are playing at home. On a big match day, Cardiff changes completely. Red shirts fill the city centre, pubs are packed hours before kick-off and thousands of supporters make their way towards Principality Stadium.
Matches against England, Ireland and Scotland carry plenty of history, but every home fixture has its own atmosphere.
The tournament normally runs through February and March, making it one of the first major sporting events Welsh fans look forward to each year.
The Welsh Rugby Union remains the best place for supporters to find official information on Welsh rugby, upcoming fixtures and tickets.
Wales Football Internationals
Football has always had a strong following in Wales, but the success of the national team over the past decade has taken it to another level.
Whether it is World Cup qualifying, European Championship qualifying or the Nations League, Wales home games have developed an identity of their own.
Cardiff City Stadium may be considerably smaller than Principality Stadium, but that often works in its favour. The crowd is close to the pitch and the atmosphere can be brilliant when Wales have a major game.
For supporters who cannot get a ticket, watching together in pubs and fan zones has also become part of the occasion.
Big internationals naturally attract plenty of predictions and discussion about the likely result. Fans interested in comparing different bookmakers can Compare the Best UK Betting Sites before choosing where to bet.
The Welsh Grand National
Rugby and football might grab most of the headlines, but horse racing has its own long history in Wales.
The Welsh Grand National at Chepstow Racecourse is the standout.
Held during the winter National Hunt season, the race has become one of the traditional highlights of the festive sporting calendar. The combination of winter weather, a demanding race and a big holiday crowd gives it a character quite different from a summer day at the races.
Chepstow isn’t the only option either. Ffos Las and Bangor-on-Dee give racing fans plenty of opportunities to enjoy a day at the track throughout the year.
Welsh Country has also covered some of the best racing events to look forward to in Wales.
Welsh Rugby Derbies
International rugby gets the biggest crowds, but domestic Welsh rugby can become just as intense when local pride is involved.
Games between Wales’ major professional sides have always carried extra meaning. Supporters know each other, players often have connections to both areas and bragging rights can last much longer than the match itself.
The festive period has traditionally been particularly important for Welsh rugby, with derby fixtures giving fans something to look forward to between Christmas and New Year.
For anyone visiting Wales during rugby season, a local derby can also offer a different experience from the huge international occasions in Cardiff.
Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and the Domestic Football Season
Welsh football isn’t just about the national team.
Cardiff City and Swansea City have one of British football’s fiercest local rivalries, while Wrexham’s rise has brought unprecedented international attention to football in North Wales.
Further down the pyramid, clubs across the Cymru Premier and Welsh football system remain important parts of their local communities.
That means almost every weekend during the football season gives supporters somewhere to go, whether that’s a major league match or standing beside the pitch at a smaller local club.
And sometimes, those smaller grounds provide the better day out.
Boxing Day and Festive Sport
Christmas in Wales isn’t only about food and family.
For many sports fans, the festive calendar is almost as important.
Football, rugby and horse racing traditionally provide plenty of action around Christmas and New Year, giving people an excuse to escape the house after several days of leftovers.
The Welsh Grand National is an obvious highlight, while football and rugby fixtures throughout the festive period regularly attract strong crowds.
It’s one of those times when sport becomes part of the Christmas routine rather than simply something happening on television.
The Big Summer Sporting Weekends
Not every important Welsh sporting occasion happens inside a stadium.
Wales’ landscape makes the country ideal for running, cycling, triathlon and endurance events.
From races through Welsh towns and cities to demanding events around Eryri, Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons, the warmer months bring a completely different kind of sporting calendar.
These events often involve entire communities. Roads fill with spectators, volunteers line the routes and local businesses benefit from competitors and their families staying for the weekend.
You don’t necessarily need to be competing to enjoy them either. Watching hundreds of runners or cyclists tackle some of Wales’ toughest scenery can be an event in itself.
Sport Is Part of the Welsh Calendar
The biggest thing Welsh sporting events have in common isn’t necessarily the sport.
It’s the atmosphere around them.
A Six Nations weekend means a packed Cardiff city centre. A Wales football international brings supporters together from every corner of the country. A winter race meeting becomes a family day out, while local football and rugby fixtures keep communities connected throughout the season.
Teams change, players retire and results are quickly forgotten, but those dates keep coming around every year, and Welsh fans keep turning up.