TKO Group Holdings announced plans for a UFC event on the White House South Lawn on June 14, 2026, as part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations. The production is expected to cost around $60 million, more than triple the expense of the 2024 Sphere event, with the company anticipating a $30 million loss. UFC executives described it as a unique investment for long-term earned media value.
The UFC's upcoming event at the White House marks a significant undertaking for TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and WWE. Scheduled for June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., the mixed martial arts card coincides with President Donald Trump's birthday and the nation's 250th anniversary. TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro stated during the company's fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call that costs are estimated at $60 million, describing the figure as a "moving target" but projecting a net loss of about $30 million. "We will not profit from the White House event independently," Shapiro said. "This is an investment for the long term. This is about earned media."
UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally of Trump who spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, emphasized the event's uniqueness. "This is a one-of-one incredible opportunity not only for the fans, for the sport, but for the fighters," White told Fox News. The production will feature a temporary Octagon, with fighters walking to the cage from the Oval Office, and include custom lighting and stage design highlighting the White House and Washington Monument. Attendance on the lawn is limited to around 5,000 due to security and underground tunnels, with 1,000 seats reserved for military personnel. A companion viewing area at The Ellipse or National Mall will accommodate up to 85,000 fans with large screens, bands, and festivities resembling a rock concert mixed with sports.
TKO plans to cover all costs without taxpayer funds, broadcasting on Paramount+ and potentially CBS for six to seven fights. Site restoration, including replacing the grass, is estimated at $700,000 to $1 million. This event surpasses the $20 million cost of UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2024, which White called "pocket change" in comparison. The announcement came amid TKO's 2025 earnings release, where UFC reported $1.502 billion in revenue, up 7% year-over-year, though outpaced by WWE's $1.709 billion. TKO guided for 2026 revenue of $5.675 billion to $5.775 billion.
