White House UFC cage fight to take place in June 2026 on White House south lawn

The White House confirmed Friday the planned Ultimate Fighting Championship fight will take place next June on the south lawn, with more events taking place on the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. 

The UFC fight will be part of the United States' year-long 250th anniversary celebration. President Donald Trump first teased the fight in July, and the president is a known fan sport who has been spotted at multiple matches in the past.

The large-scale event will feature an octagon cage and will be displayed on giant screens south of the Ellipse. Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the event live, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The UFC will also feature fighter weigh-ins and press conferences at the Lincoln Memorial and the sporting event will culminate in a firework and light show. 

“This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told the outlet. 

Event organizers said the sporting event is still early in the planning phases, so scheduling could still change, but no official date has been released so far. However, the fight was moved from the Fourth of July to sometime in June because there were already a lot of events scheduled for the Fourth.

UFC CEO Dana White is in charge of planning the event, but Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump has also helped with the planning.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.