WrestleMania. It’s the one weekend where grown adults wear championship belts to breakfast and the phrase "finish the story" becomes a literal mantra for thousands of people packed into a stadium. If you're asking when is wrestlemania wwe taking place for the next big go-around, you're likely looking for the 2026 dates, and honestly, the answer is a bit of a curveball compared to the old days.
Gone are the times when WrestleMania was just a random Sunday in late March. We’re in the era of the two-night "Show of Shows," and for 2026, WWE is doubling down on a city that basically treated them like royalty last year.
The Dates You Need to Circle in Red
WrestleMania 42 is officially scheduled for Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Yeah, it’s a mid-April show. This follows the modern trend of pushing the event a little deeper into the spring to avoid some of the unpredictable weather that plagued outdoor shows in the past (looking at you, WrestleMania 37 rain delay).
But here’s the thing: while the main event happens over those two nights, the actual "WrestleMania Week" kicks off way earlier. If you’re planning a trip, you’re really looking at a five-day gauntlet. WWE World, the massive interactive fan festival, is slated to run from Thursday, April 16 through Monday, April 20. It’s held at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall, and it’s basically Comic-Con but with more folding chairs and sweat.
Where is WrestleMania 42 happening?
For the second year in a row, WWE is heading back to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Paradise), Nevada.
This is actually a historical anomaly. Usually, WWE likes to hop around to different markets—Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Tampa—to spread the wealth. However, after the massive financial success of WrestleMania 41 in Vegas, the TKO Group (WWE's parent company) decided to run it back. Allegiant Stadium is a beast. It’s fully enclosed, meaning you don't have to worry about the desert heat or a freak rainstorm ruining the pyro.
Interestingly, there was a whole saga involving New Orleans. Originally, rumors and even some early internal discussions pointed toward the Caesars Superdome hosting the 2026 event. The Rock even teased a New Orleans appearance at one point. But in a late-game pivot in May 2025, WWE shifted the location to Vegas, leaving New Orleans to host a future "Big Five" event instead.
How to Get Tickets Without Losing Your Mind
Tickets are already a hot topic. If you haven't grabbed yours yet, here is the deal. Two-day combo tickets—which get you the same seat for both Saturday and Sunday—usually go on sale first. For WrestleMania 42, these hit Ticketmaster back in September 2025.
If you just want to see one night, individual day tickets went on sale on Black Friday (November 28, 2025).
Current pricing on the secondary market is, frankly, eye-watering. Verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster are hovering anywhere from $700 for the "nosebleeds" to upwards of $9,000 for the "Priority Pass" VIP packages. If you're looking for a bargain, you might want to wait until the week of the show when some people panic-sell, but that's a risky game for an event this big.
What is the Full Schedule?
A WrestleMania weekend isn't just the stadium shows. Here is how the 2026 "Grand Slam" of wrestling looks:
- Friday, April 17: Friday Night SmackDown & the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
- Saturday, April 18: WrestleMania Saturday (Night 1).
- Sunday, April 19: WrestleMania Sunday (Night 2).
- Monday, April 20: Raw After Mania (The most chaotic night of the year).
Why the Date Matters This Year
The timing of when is wrestlemania wwe matters because of the competition. By moving to April 18-19, WWE avoids a direct conflict with the NCAA Final Four, which usually eats up the early April sports calendar.
Plus, there is the John Cena factor. 2025 was billed as his "Farewell Tour," but as we know in wrestling, "retirement" is a flexible term. By April 2026, fans are speculating whether we’ll see him in a different capacity, perhaps as a Hall of Fame inductee or a special guest referee.
Another layer to the 2026 dates is the streaming shift. In the United States, this will be one of the first WrestleManias to have a heavy presence on ESPN’s streaming services (following the wind-down of the Peacock deal) and Netflix for international audiences. If you aren't in Vegas, make sure your subscriptions are active before that Saturday night kickoff.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you are planning to attend or watch, here is your immediate checklist:
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- Verify Your Streaming Access: If you're in the US, check if you need the ESPN+ or Netflix app updated for the new broadcast rights.
- Book Hotels Near the Monorail: Allegiant Stadium is walkable from certain Strip hotels (like Mandalay Bay), but the Las Vegas Monorail is your best friend for getting to the Convention Center for WWE World.
- Monitor the Match Card: The "Road to WrestleMania" officially begins at the Royal Rumble in late January. Keep an eye on the winners there to see who will be headlining the April 18 and 19 dates.
- Budget for "WWE World": Tickets for the fan fest usually require a separate purchase from the actual WrestleMania ticket. Those went on sale in mid-January 2026, so grab them now if you want to see the memorabilia.
WrestleMania is no longer just a wrestling show; it’s a cultural takeover of a city. Whether you're there for the spectacle of Cody Rhodes or the inevitable chaos of a Roman Reigns entrance, knowing exactly when and where to be is the difference between a great trip and a total mess.