UFC to spend around $60m on White House event

The UFC will spend up to $60m (£44.3m) on its one-of-a-kind event at the White House, according to TKO Group Holdings chief Mark Shapiro.

The UFC plans to spend approximately $60 million on a historic event at the White House on June 14, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. TKO Group Holdings president Mark Shapiro stated that the event is viewed as a long-term investment rather than a profit-making venture, aiming to attract new fans and increase brand visibility, particularly on platforms like Paramount+. The event is expected to host around 5,000 spectators on the South Lawn, with an additional 80,000 fans viewing at the nearby Ellipse park in Washington, D.C. Specific fight matchups have not yet been announced, but notable fighters such as Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Alex Pereira, Amanda Nunes, Nate Diaz, and Islam Makhachev have expressed interest in participating. The event is also set to coincide with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. ([aol.com](https://www.aol.com/articles/ufc-spend-around-60m-white-131612867.html?utm_source=openai))

UFC president Mark Shapiro has stated that the organization does not expect to profit from the upcoming White House event scheduled for June 14, 2026. The event, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, is projected to cost around $60 million. Shapiro emphasized that this expenditure is viewed as a long-term investment aimed at expanding the UFC's audience and increasing its success on platforms like Paramount+. The event is expected to feature six to seven fights, with weigh-ins potentially held at the Lincoln Memorial. Specific matchups have not yet been announced. ([mmafighting.com](https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/473550/ufc-white-house-event-costs-could-skyrocket-past-60-million-but-ufc-will-not-profit-from-the-card?utm_source=openai))

The UFC's upcoming event on the White House South Lawn, scheduled for June 14, 2026, is projected to cost approximately $60 million, nearly tripling the expense of UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. UFC CEO Dana White has indicated that the event will be invitation-only, with around 3,000 to 4,000 guests in attendance, and no public ticket sales. A secondary viewing area at The Ellipse is expected to accommodate an additional 85,000 fans. The event is part of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration. ([mmamania.com](https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-white-house-2026-fight-card-start-time-full-results-dana-white-conor-mcgregor-cbs-mma/424629/ufc-to-spend-as-much-as-60-million-to-put-on-ufc-white-house-this-year?utm_source=openai))