Historic UFC Fight Night Set for the White House on July 4, 2026, as Part of Paramount Streaming Deal
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is preparing to host the first-ever professional mixed martial arts event at the White House, marking a historic moment for the sport and the presidential residence. UFC President Dana White confirmed that the event will take place on July 4, 2026, celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“It is definitely going to happen,” White said during an interview, confirming talks he has held with former President Donald Trump. White revealed that the initiative originated from Trump, who personally requested the event and emphasized involving his daughter Ivanka Trump in the planning process.
White disclosed he plans to meet with Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump later this month to finalize event details, including venue renderings for the White House south lawn, where the fight night is slated to occur. A source familiar with the planning confirmed the White House anticipates the event taking place as scheduled.
This announcement comes amid the UFC’s recent finalization of a groundbreaking seven-year streaming partnership with Paramount Global, valued at an average of $1.1 billion annually. The deal signals a major shift for the UFC, transitioning from traditional pay-per-view offerings to a model that includes live streaming all U.S. events on Paramount+ and simulcasting select marquee fights on CBS.
Dana White described this agreement as “one of the massive, major milestones in my career and in the history of the sport,” highlighting the significance of both the deal and the historic White House fight night.
President Trump previously expressed his enthusiasm for hosting a UFC match on White House grounds, envisioning an audience of approximately 20,000 spectators. The planned July 4, 2026 event will make UFC history as the first such event held at the presidential residence, showcasing not only the growth of mixed martial arts but also the sport’s increasing mainstream appeal in the United States.
Since UFC’s early days when the Fertitta brothers acquired the then fledgling organization for $2 million in 2001 and appointed White to lead, the promotion has transformed into a global sports juggernaut. Under White’s guidance, UFC reached a $4 billion valuation in 2016 and secured lucrative broadcast deals with Fox and ESPN before negotiating the latest and most lucrative contract with Paramount.
The historic event at the White House, coupled with the expansive Paramount streaming deal, represents a new era for UFC as it continues to expand its audience and innovate its distribution approach ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations.