In what is set to be one of the most historic shows in company history, the UFC is preparing to stage an event at the White House.
In July last year, US President Donald Trump confirmed the UFC’s plans to host a card at the property to mark and celebrate 250 years of America’s independence.
UFC CEO Dana White enjoys a close relationship with the president, dating back to 2001 when the company hosted two events (UFC 30 and UFC 31) at the now closed ‘Trump Taj Mahal’.
Trump allowed the promotion to use his venues at a time when the UFC was blacklisted in many territories. It’s something that Dana has never forgotten.
The UFC Octagon is now set to grace its most iconic stage yet, as it will be set up on the south lawn of the White House.
Below is everything we know about the event so far.
When is the UFC White House Card?
Dana White has confirmed that the UFC White House card will take place on Sunday the 14th of June 2026. The event is scheduled for the same day that Trump turns 80 years old, with the show forming part of his birthday celebrations.
What Fights are Happening on the UFC White House Card?
As of now, no fights have been confirmed for the event. However, there have been plenty of rumours regarding the planned line-up.
At a press conference in February, Dana White told reporters that the card was ‘done’, but swiftly moved on before revealing any further information.
A lightweight title unification bout between full champion Ilia Topuria and interim titleholder Justin Gaethje was leaked as the planned main event for the show.
However, according to the Spanish reporter who originally broke the news, Alvaro Colmenero, the chances of the fight taking place at the White House have now ‘decreased’.
Colmenero explained:
“The fight has NOT been signed, and despite being a possibility, the chances of it taking place there have decreased.
“There are several geopolitical and economic arguments against the fight being held at the White House,” he added.
While the previously touted main event may now no longer be happening, several other major names have made it clear that they want to fight on the card.
UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes has called for her fight with women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison to be added to the White House show.
Elsewhere, names such as Conor McGregor and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira have put their names forward for a bout on the card.
One fighter that UFC boss White has vowed not to book at the White House, though, is Jon Jones.
“You know how I felt about [Jones]. I can’t risk putting him in big positions, in a big spot, and have something go wrong, especially the White House card.
“If I had to make odds, it’s a billion-to-one that I put Jon Jones on the White House card”.
How to Get Tickets For the UFC White House Card
Despite reports that the UFC is set to spend as much as $60 million on production costs, tickets won’t be put on public sale for the White House event.
UFC executive Mark Shapiro recently confirmed the news to shareholders as he revealed:
“We will not profit from the White House event independently. We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary. This is an investment for the long term.”
It is expected that access to the event itself will be invite-only. However, arrangements are being made to allow fans to enjoy the card in a separate location.
Dana White confirmed the organisation’s plans for the show in an interview with CBS in January:
“We’re literally just got done going through all the logistics of how to set it up there, how many people we can have.
“It’s looking like we’ll have 5,000 people on the White House lawn — on the South Lawn. Then, across the street is the park. It’s called The Ellipse, and we can have 85,000 people there.
“We’re going to have big screens, a stage, music throughout the day. We’re basically going to take over DC that whole week with lots of different things for fight fans.”
How to Watch the UFC White House Card
In the UK, fans will be able to witness the event live on TNT Sports, while Paramount+ will stream the event for viewers in the US.
The White House card will be the biggest show the promotion has staged since signing a $7.7 billion broadcast deal with the streaming platform.
However, Dana White has also stated that a portion of the card may be broadcast on network television via CBS:
“Maybe we might do some prelims on CBS, but it will be on Paramount. Listen, we’re on Paramount+. There will be some fights on CBS, but we’re on Paramount.”
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