Minneapolis to host WWE SummerSlam 2026 — and it will be a two-day event for the first time
Minneapolis just missed out on hosting WrestleMania 41 in 2025, but it will instead serve as host for a WWE first.
SummerSlam 2026 will be held at Minneapolis' U.S. Bank Stadium and, for the first time, it's scheduled to be a two-day event, taking place Aug. 1-2. WWE will also have a "host of fan and community events" leading up to SummerSlam, similar to "WWE World" during WrestleMania.
Aside from WrestleMania, SummerSlam is one of WWE's premier pay-per-view events, taking place every year since 1988. The event has grown in popularity and success in recent years; starting in 2021, it was moved from arenas to NFL stadiums, just like WrestleMania. In 2020, WrestleMania became a two-day event and has remained a multi-day affair since.
Now SummerSlam is joining the party.
It's unusual for WWE to announce any non-WrestleMania premium live events a year ahead of time, let alone two. (The location for SummerSlam 2025 has yet to be announced and it's unknown at this time if it will remain a one-day event.)
For Minneapolis, securing SummerSlam 2026 makes up for the missed opportunity of hosting WrestleMania in 2025.
The decision to hold WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas next year was expected as reports began to circulate about WWE's desire to bring it close to the Las Vegas Strip. WWE President Nick Khan said in April the company didn't want WrestleMania at an outdoor East Coast stadium, considering WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia was held in frigid weather.
Before Las Vegas emerged as the leading contender, it was widely expected WrestleMania 41 would be held at U.S. Bank Stadium — the indoor facility, home of the Minnesota Vikings, would remove the possibility of cold conditions. Minnesota Sports and Events President Wendy Blackshaw told the Star Tribune after the WrestleMania 41 announcement that Minneapolis was in the running for WrestleMania but "new ownership" resulted in it not being selected.
"We are thrilled to welcome the WWE Universe to Minnesota for SummerSlam,” Blackshaw said in a statement on Thursday. "We will make this summertime wrestling extravaganza accessible for fans of all ages. Through a variety of festivities and ancillary events in the Twin Cities and affordable tickets to the main events at U.S. Bank Stadium, this will be a SummerSlam for all."
SummerSlam 2026 is slated to be the first premium live event held in Minneapolis since 2019's "TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs." SummerSlam last came to Minneapolis in 1999, when it was staged at the Target Center.
SummerSlam 2024 will be held at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Aug. 3.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE SummerSlam 2026 will be two-day event held in Minneapolis
