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PFL Unveils 24-Event 2026 Slate, Names First Stops in Dubai, Madrid, Pittsburgh and Chicago

New leadership is abandoning global tournaments in favor of traditional matchmaking to deliver clearer, bigger cards.

Overview

  • PFL plans 24 events in 2026, with 16 global shows on ESPN and eight regional tournaments across MENA and Africa.
  • The opening run features February in Dubai, March in Madrid and Pittsburgh, and April in Chicago, with exact dates to come.
  • Global cards shift to traditional matchmaking, while MENA and Africa series keep tournament formats as talent pipelines.
  • ESPN holds U.S. rights for the global cards through the end of 2026, and Vice TV has linear rights for regional events beginning in December 2025.
  • John Martin serves as CEO after a July appointment and Lenny Daniels has been named COO, with fight matchups for the early 2026 cards yet to be announced.