As questions arise regarding the impact of extreme heat on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new research study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction revealed that extreme weather is increasingly threatening the safety and viability of global events. Drawing from a 20-year analysis of 2,091 disrupted events worldwide, the study confirms that climate change is a key factor behind the rising number of event cancellations, delays, and modifications, especially in Canada.
The study, Mapping the Impact of Extreme Weather on Global Events and Mass Gatherings: Trends and Adaptive Strategies, was led by BCIT Sustainable Events faculty Shawna McKinley, alongside international researchers from Germany, Australia, and Japan. The findings point to alarming trends related to storms, heatwaves, wildfires, and air quality issues, and the harm being felt by arts and culture, sports, fundraising, business, and community groups that host events worldwide.
“This research confirms what event organizers and communities are already experiencing,” explains lead author and BCIT faculty Shawna McKinley. “We’re no longer just planning for weather contingencies that may happen day-of. Organizers must consider the impact of climate change on their earliest choices — location, format, timing, and budget – and proactively adapt.”
Key findings
- Reported event disruptions are rising: There was an 86.5% increase in disruptions between 2023 and 2024. Storms and their effects cause the most impact, but heat-related issues are becoming more prominent, while wildfire and air quality impacts have been severe but less consistent.
- Climate change is a confirmed factor: Weather disrupting 57% of gatherings was found to be intensified by human-caused climate change.
- Economic and health risks are real: Financial losses, fatalities, and mass health issues underscore the urgent need for better risk management and low-carbon practices.
- Event type matters: While all events are affected by weather, arts, culture, and entertainment are the most impacted, representing 38% of incidents reported. Sports and fundraising events that occur outdoors in Canada are uniquely vulnerable.
- Organizers are adapting: While delays and shelter-in-place procedures have been long-standing policies for weather safety, contingency plans employing event technology and new approaches to heat and air quality safety are emerging.
Flagship Canadian events impacted by weather
The study points to several high-profile Canadian events disrupted due to unseasonal warmth and extreme weather:
Winter warming
Warm spells altered iconic winter events in 2024, including the PwC Tremblant World Cup, the World Pond Hockey Championship, the BC Winter Games, and the BeaverTails Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival. The latter, an event that raises funds for local charities, has now been cancelled three years in a row (2023–2025) due to inadequate ice on the Rideau Canal.
Rising costs due to unreliable weather
The BC Cancer Foundation permanently cancelled its flagship Tour de Cure fundraiser after 16 years, citing rising operational costs and increasingly unreliable weather. The event raised more than $131 million for cancer research.
Wildfires
In 2023, wildfires delayed the Northwest Territories election by six weeks and prevented Indigenous community members from attending the 30th Dehcho Annual Assembly, which had already been postponed earlier in the year due to weather issues. Arts and cultural events in BC have also had to adapt. Notable among them is the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, which was moved from August to July to avoid peak wildfire season.
The path forward
While extreme weather increasingly threatens the viability and safety of global events, the research also points to adaptive solutions. Because 81% of events are disrupted before crowds gather, organizers should focus on proactive measures, such as site selection that considers climate projections, contingency plans for alternate formats, timing and locations, insurance protections, and fair and transparent cancellation policies with strong communication strategies that keep guests informed of changing plans.
In situations when crowds gather, it is increasingly important to prepare for emerging risks like heat, air quality, and intense rainfall. These situations may require improved forecasting technology, new equipment such as monitors, masks and cooling stations, and specialized staff training.
The study acknowledges that a data gap exists in underrepresented regions such as Asia, Africa, and non-English-speaking countries. As such, it calls for broader, multilingual, and systematic research efforts to better understand and mitigate these risks globally.
Interested in designing events that adapt to the changing climate? Learn more about the Sustainable Event Management Operations course, taught by Shawna McKinley.
About Shawna McKinley
Shawna McKinley is the Principal of Clear Current Consulting and is an accomplished event sustainability consultant, instructor, researcher and author. Over the last 25 years she has helped event hosts improve their events through environmental and social impact programs. Shawna is also an Instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where she is recognized as a subject matter specialist in climate change and events. She’s a frequent and long-time contributor to event sector publications on sustainability topics and is presently pioneering collaborative research into how global events of all types are adapting to the impact of climate change.
Note to media: Shawna McKinley is available to speak about the research study. Please contact Amy Chen to schedule an interview.