WWE Announces WrestleMania 42 For Las Vegas At WWE Money In The Bank

At WWE Money in the Bank, WWE announced that WrestleMania 42 will return to Las Vegas, Nev. amid a surprising change in plans after the event was originally planned for New Orleans, La. Fans in the building gave the announcement a loud and mixed reaction in Inglewood, Calif. The event will take place on April 18 and April 19, 2026.

The announcement was made via video package featuring WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H, who asked if fans were ready to “double-down.”

WWE shocked the wrestling world on last month as reports surfaced that WrestleMania 42 would not take place in New Orleans, La. as had already been announced by The Rock on the February 21 broadcast of SmackDown.

This episode also featured the beginning of Rock’s now infamous “I want your soul” storyline that culminated in a John Cena heel turn. Rock was not seen or heard from again during WrestleMania season, much to the chagrin of WWE’s fanbase.

“Despite an announcement earlier this year, WrestleMania will not take place in New Orleans in 2026,” read a report on Thursday by Wrestlenomics. New Orleans has hosted two WrestleManias as the Mercedes-Benz SuperDome was the site of WrestleMania 30 and WrestleMania 34. New Orleans is expected to host a future WrestleMania, though it is not known when as of this writing.

WrestleMania 42 Moved From New Orleans To Las Vegas

Triple H made things official by confirming WrestleMania 42 will not be in New Orleans, and as a consolation gift, the city will be hosting next year’s WWE Money in the Bank.

WWE’s Louisiana refund has led to speculation of a Saudi Arabia, London or even Mexico as possible replacements. But in the fallout from WWE’s surprising decision, Las Vegas has emerged as the strongest frontrunner after WWE did its largest gate ever in Sin City for this year’s WrestleMania 41.

“The new plan, while not officially announced, is to run at Allegiant Stadium and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas like this year, and move the shows back one week, with WrestleMania on April 18 and 19,” said Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, whose reporting is notoriously hit-or-miss.

“Those in Las Vegas confirmed that they have reserved the stadium for shows on the two days and that the plan is to run the city.”

WWE’s record-breaking WrestleMania in Las Vegas, featuring some of the highiest ticket prices in WWE history, includes:

• The largest gate in WrestleMania history with a reported 124,693 fans across two nights in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
• A 45% increase in sales from WrestleMania 40 in 2024, which held the previous record.
• A record 28 total partners setting an all-time record for revenue.
• The most-attended WWE World in WrestleMania history with 50,000 total attendees, a 21% increase from 2024.
• A $5 million site fee in addition to a $4.2 million in film tax credits for WWE.
• A 75% increase in hospitality sales for On Location compared to 2024.

While no official statement has been made by WWE, the promotion seems to feel there is more money to be made in Las Vegas on its biggest show of the year. If it ain’t broke, break a promise with New Orleans Sports Foundation.