WWE's Next WrestleMania Won't Be In New Orleans Anymore

In a statement from the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation issued to Wrestlenomics, it's been confirmed that New Orleans will no longer be hosting 2026's WrestleMania. It's unclear why exactly New Orleans will no longer be WrestleMania 42's host city, but the statement did confirm that the Foundation is putting together a bigger deal with WWE regarding hosting future events.

That will include hosting a WrestleMania further down the line, but will begin with next year's Money in the Bank heading to New Orleans. UFC 318 will be taking place in New Orleans this July, and it's believed that Money in the Bank and a future WrestleMania beyond next year's event are part of a new "multi-event, multi-year agreement" between the city and WWE.

Fightful has corroborated the report, confirming with WWE that the location for WrestleMania 42 will indeed need to be changed, but as initially reported, Money in the Bank - and a future WrestleMania - will be headed to the city instead. What we don't know right now is where exactly next year's WrestleMania will take place.

Which City Is Prepared To Host A WrestleMania With Ten Months' Notice?

Even though the event is still more than ten months away, WrestleMania gets bigger every year. It's a huge undertaking to host the event for several reasons. A stadium big enough to warrant a WrestleMania needs to be free for an entire weekend - even longer, really, as WWE needs to get in there to set up days before. It also needs to take place in a city with other arenas nearby to host SmackDown, Raw, NXT, and the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Suffice to say, while I'm sure there will be cities out there getting in touch with WWE as we speak, it's not something that can just be thrust on anyone, even with ten months' notice. British fans have been crying out for a WrestleMania in the UK, with London mayor Sadiq Khan promising to try and bring the event overseas for the first time in its history. However, with the Premier League season in full swing when WrestleMania happens, finding a stadium in London that's free at the right time will be easier said than done.

Saudi Arabia is an option, of course, albeit an unpopular one with a lot of fans and probably a significant chunk of the locker room too. The Royal Rumble is headed to Saudi Arabia in 2026, and that's already rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Adding the biggest event of the year to the country's line-up just a few months later probably wouldn't be a wise thing to do.