Update April 11, 2026:
Hi everyone, thank you for taking part in this challenge! Submissions are now closed.
Hello everyone!
Did you know that sports events are some of the biggest drivers of global travel? While the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina have wrapped up, we are lucky to have a packed year ahead with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament that just began in India.
When thousands of fans arrive in a city, the energy is incredible, but it can be overwhelming for visitors. This presents Local Guides with an opportunity to help more people decide where they should go and what they should do during these busy moments. For example, when you create and share a list, you aren’t just highlighting locations; you are acting as digital hosts for the world by sharing authentic local gems and unique stories of your city.
Empower every visitor to explore like a local
Fans are looking for more than just a route to the stadium; they want a local’s perspective to help them truly experience a city. Whether you are building a comprehensive guide for a global tournament — like this wonderful Mexico 26 Guide by Local Guide @Lalopadilla — or simply sharing your favorite neighborhood spots through your lists, your expertise can transform a stressful trip into an unforgettable journey.
Here are a few ways your contributions can make an impact:
Curate lists
Group “Authentic Local Eats” or “Post-Match Spots” into a saved list that you can share directly with visiting friends. It’s the perfect way to give personal recommendations, helping your crew and guests discover local gems. And sharing your lists on your social channel or Connect are great ways to help others discover them!
Highlight accessibility
Help all fans find the most accessible routes by tagging accessible entrances, answering accessibility questions on the Map, or uploading photos of ramps and elevators at stadiums and transit hubs.
Share photos & videos
Upload recent shots of stadium gates and security checkpoints. Visuals help visitors find the right path and reduce bottlenecking at the venue.
Update facts & attributes
Use “Suggest an Edit” to keep the city moving. Update temporary match-day hours for cafes, mark road closures, or update business attributes to show if a place is good for groups or has accessible facilities.
Provide logistics in reviews
Use Reviews and Q&A to answer the “big event” questions: Is the WiFi strong enough for score updates? Is there a quiet corner away from the noise? These details build traveler confidence.
India Spotlight Challenge: The IPL 2026 lists!
To kick off this major sports season and put those tips into action, we have a special mission for our community in India! The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s premier professional cricket league and a massive annual event that draws over 3.7 million fans to stadiums.
To help visitors navigate the 13 host cities with ease, the Google Maps Product team is challenging our community to create helpful Google Maps Lists with the very best local recommendations for this massive influx of fans. This challenge will run until April 10, 2026, giving you plenty of time to share your local expertise with fellow Maps visitors.
The reward
While this is a location-specific challenge (no badges this time!), the most helpful and creative lists will have the chance to be publicly featured, right on Google Maps! This is a huge opportunity to show your local knowledge to millions of fans.
Important note: If your list is selected, we’ll contact you to sign a Standard Marketing Release so we can officially showcase your list on the Map.
How to participate
We are looking for two types of lists for each stadium location:
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Dining & local businesses vibe: Think “Top spots for a post-match dinner” or “Best bars or restaurants to watch the game.”
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Fan experience & logistics: Think “Best fan parks for live screenings” or “the most convenient transit hubs and parking spots near the stadium” (don’t forget to add your expert tips in the description of each place).
To ensure your lists are eligible to be featured, please follow these two rules:
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One category per list: Do not mix “Logistics” and “Dining” in the same list. Keep them separate so fans can choose exactly what they need.
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One location per list: Each list should focus on a single city or stadium area. For example, instead of a general “India IPL” list, create a specific one for “Best Live Match screenings in Delhi” or “Mumbai - Wankhede Stadium” or “Kolkata - Eden Gardens”
Pro-Tip: You can create as many lists as you like! The more specific and local your advice is, the better.
The 13 locations: Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mullanpur, Dharamshala, Visakhapatnam, and Guwahati.
To make your list stand out, keep these tips in mind:
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Title it clearly: (e.g., “Best Post-Match Eats near Wankhede Stadium”)
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Settings: Make sure your list is set to Shared
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Include at least 5 places: giving explorers enough variety and options to choose from
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Add notes: Don’t just add the pin- tell us why it’s a great place. Is it a quick walk to the gate? Does it have an unbeatable vibe, or is it open until midnight? Keep the notes authentic, brief, and fun (emojis are highly encouraged!
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Keep it focused: Stick to one specific city, stadium, or neighborhood so your List is practical and helpful
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Drive engagement: Don’t be shy—link to your own Connect posts or social media within your list descriptions to keep the conversation going!
Follow these steps to create your IPL lists and share them in the comments below!
On Mobile, from the Google Maps App:
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Go to the “You” tab: Open the Google Maps app and tap the “You” icon at the bottom of your screen.
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Start a new list: Scroll down to the “Your Lists” section and tap “+ New list”
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Set your list’s name and visibility: Give your list a title and ensure the list type is set to “Public.”
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Add the places: Search for and include the relevant places
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Write your descriptions: In your list view, you will see an “Add a note about this place” field directly under each location. Tap there and write a note (5 words minimum but please remain concise) explaining why this place is relevant to your list’s theme/to IPL.
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Share the link below: Copy your list link and paste it in a reply to this post.
On Desktop (Web):
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Open Google Maps: Go to maps.google.com.
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Open your lists: Click the “Saved” icon (bookmark symbol) in the left sidebar.
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Start a new list: Click the “Lists” tab and then “New list”.
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Set your list’s name and visibility: : Give your list a title and click the three dots (⋮) to set “Sharing options” to “Public”.
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Add your descriptions: Click “Edit list” and write your note (5 words minimum but please remain concise) explaining why this place is relevant to your list’s theme/to IPL.
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Share: Click the “Share” button and paste the link in a reply to this post.
@ Our global gommunity: While this specific list opportunity is for India, we are using this as a blueprint. If this is successful, we might just replicate similar challenges for the World Cup and other sporting events!
Is there a major event coming your way that could benefit from a guide like the Mexico one or from some curated lists? Let us know below!
éxitos a todos en sus listas.
