UFC Confirms 2026 Return to Salt Lake City as Delta Center–TKO Partnership Expands

UFC will be back in Salt Lake City in 2026, extending a run that’s seen Delta Center become one of the promotion’s most reliable western stops. The announcement came alongside news that WWE will stage a two-show weekend at the venue this fall—SmackDown (Oct. 31, 2025) and Saturday Night’s Main Event (Nov. 1, 2025)—underscoring TKO’s growing footprint in Utah.

Why it matters

• Elite performance market: Delta Center hosted three straight UFC sellouts—UFC 278 (Usman vs. Edwards 2), UFC 291 (Poirier vs. Gaethje 2), and UFC 307 (Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.)—with a combined $74.1M economic impact.
• Calendar leverage: Locking 2026 early lets UFC sequence PPVs/Fight Nights around western travel blocks and altitude-acclimation windows, while maintaining a strong mountain-time broadcast profile.

What we know (so far)

• UFC: Returning in 2026 to Delta Center (card/date TBA)
• WWE: SmackDown (Oct. 31, 2025) & Saturday Night’s Main Event (Nov. 1, 2025)
• View the full WWE breakdown at Wrestling.news —>

From the official UFC press release: 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Aug. 26, 2025 – TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), together with the Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group, today announced an agreement to bring three highly anticipated WWE and UFC events to Delta Center in Salt Lake City through 2026.   

This move builds upon the relationship TKO, the Utah Sports Commission, and Smith Entertainment Group have forged in recent years collectively hosting three incredibly successful, sold out UFC numbered events at Delta Center – UFC 278: USMAN vs EDWARDS 2 in 2022, UFC 291: POIRIER vs GAETHJE 2 in 2023, and UFC 307: PEREIRA vs ROUNTREE JR in 2024 – which all delivered substantial economic benefit, generating a total economic impact of $74.1 million for the Salt Lake City region, according to research firm Applied Analysis.

View the full press release at UFC.com

MainEvent.news | Backstage Take

This is market engineering done right. UFC’s 2022–2024 results proved Salt Lake City can deliver turnout, gate, and big-fight energy—even on short rest between major cards. Pairing that track record with WWE’s 2025 doubleheader gives TKO year-round promotional flexibility and a reliable Mountain West anchor. Expect UFC to leverage Delta Center for high-octane striking matchups (the altitude taxes wrestle-heavy grinders) and robust VIP/Hospitality programs that have become a key revenue pillar post-merger.