Fixtures before flights? One in five holidaymakers have changed holidays around sport

• 21% of holidaymakers regularly check the sporting calendar before booking a trip and a quarter (24%) have returned home early so they don’t miss a sporting event (1)

• One lucky woman who has gone nearly a decade without a summertime getaway due to sports is about to get the trip of a lifetime

• The winner of giffgaff’s Fair-play Summer Fund is being sent on an all-expenses-paid trip to Svalbard, Norway, leaving her sports-loving husband at home to keep up with the sports fixtures

• giffgaff launched the Fund earlier this summer to help people overcome the barriers standing in the way of a great summer and make the season feel a little fairer.

For many Brits summer holidays aren't just planned around school, work or funds, they're now based around the sporting calendar.

New research from giffgaff reveals that one in five (22%) holidaymakers (1) have booked, changed or adjusted their travel plans because of a sporting event, with 42% (1) of those scheduling activities around matches. What’s more, 21% of holidaymakers (1) regularly check the sporting calendar before even booking their trip.

As the summer of sport continues to collide with holidays, fans are finding ways to avoid missing the action with half of those polled watching or streaming live sport while away.

Of those, a quarter (25%) have tuned in from a restaurant (1) , while 14% have followed the action poolside (1). Time zones don't stop dedicated supporters either, with one in five (21%) waking up early or staying up late to catch their favourite team in action (1). A surprising five per cent even admitted to watching sport while in the middle of sightseeing whether that be at a museum or on a boat. 

The findings suggest that the nation is at times having to compromise their love of sport with their desire to jet set away, and one woman is especially familiar with this balancing act. 

Hayley, from Newport, Wales, hasn’t been on a summertime getaway for almost a decade, and her holiday plans were often dictated by key sporting events so husband Anthony was able to enjoy them, meaning they travelled at other times of the year.

In some instances, their holiday destinations have been determined by the sporting events. In other cases, Hayley has donned her Wales rugby shirt and joined her husband for late-night and early-hours match screenings from their holiday accommodation.

But now, the 60-year-old retiree has been given the chance for a trip of a lifetime to Svalbard, Norway - a cold weather landscape that fascinates her - but with her friend Rebecca, leaving sports-loving husband Anthony, 66, at home to keep up with the fixtures.

Hayley, who has been a giffgaff member for 13 years, was chosen as the main prize winner of giffgaff’s Fair-play Summer Fund, which was designed to help people overcome the barriers standing in the way of a great summer and make the season feel a little fairer.

On winning the Fair-play Summer Fund, Hayley said: “I was literally both bouncing up and down, and crying with excitement when I found out that I’d won and would be going on a cold weather summer holiday I could only previously dream about. I’m fascinated by the landscapes of Svalbard, and in particular the varied wildlife that calls the island home. Since my husband absolutely does not tolerate the cold, a wintry weather trip was never going to be on the cards for us, so this prize delivers on two fronts. Summer is turning into a whole new adventure for me.” 

Hayley and Anthony are not alone with trying to stay up-to-date on sports while away and one in 10 (10%) of those surveyed have paid for Wi-Fi access and almost the same (9%) have used mobile data despite incurring roaming charges (1) . 8% have also bought additional roaming data, ensuring that they never miss a moment of the action (1).

giffgaff internal data backs up this demand for sports abroad as it saw large roaming surges during the football this summer with international matches seeing uplifts of up to 90% for key matches.(2)

 Kate Dohaney, CEO at giffgaff, said: “We launched the Fair-play Summer Fund following new data that showed many of us feel like summer doesn’t always play fair. From rising costs and hidden charges to missing out on experiences that matter, we wanted to help tackle some of these. 

This season, we’ve provided even greater value on our SIM plans so our members can stay connected for less. We’ve also helped 200 people solve their summer sting via our Fund, and are delighted to be sending Hayley to Norway as her fairness fix so she doesn’t have to miss out on the summer trip she’s always dreamed of.” 

 As a brand built on Fair-play, giffgaff has already been tackling some of summer's biggest stings, as it’s offering up to six times more data on its 18 month £8 SIM plan and up to three times more data on its 18 month £10 SIM plan (3) and  unlimited mobile data from £14 a month. (4)  For those travelling abroad, giffgaff plans include up to 5GB of EU data roaming as standard at no extra cost.(5)

ENDS

For more information on giffgaff broadband please visit: www.giffgaff.com/broadband 

For further information please contact giffgaff@splendidcomms.com or 020 7553 7300

Notes to Editors

1 Research of 2,000 UK holidaygoers conducted by OnePoll between 17th to 18th August 2026. 

2 Data changes were calculated by comparing traffic during match kick-off hours to the seasonal average for that specific time window. Percentage metrics reflect net lift. England vs Mexico football match on 6th July saw a 90% increase in roaming data usage.

3 Offer on £8 6GB 18 month plan. Activate plan by 4/12/26. Existing members opt in via the app. Eligibility criteria, terms and exclusions apply, see giffgaff.com/terms/promotions

Offer on £10 25GB 18 month plan. Activate plan by 30/10/26. Existing members opt in via the app. Eligibility criteria, terms and exclusions apply, see giffgaff.com/terms/promotions

4 Activate plan by 2/10/26 . Unlimited data for £14/month for duration of 18 month contract, then reverts to £25/month. Existing Members must opt-in via the app. Eligibility criteria, fair usage policy, data roaming restrictions and terms apply, see giffgaff.com/terms/promotions

5 Data roaming in EU and selected destinations is capped at 5GB. Members will be charged 10p/MB once 5GB is used.