TLDR
- UFC White House card on June 14 will have 5,000 fans on South Lawn and 85,000 at nearby Ellipse park
- No tickets will be sold to the general public for either location
- Ellipse viewing area will feature large screens, stage, and live music throughout the day
- Fighters will walk from the Oval Office to the Octagon for their entrances
- Event coincides with President Trump’s birthday and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations
Sources: MMA Fighting | MMA Mania | MMA Fighting
UFC President Dana White has finalized attendance plans for the promotion’s historic White House card scheduled for June 14 in Washington D.C. The event will accommodate roughly 90,000 fans across two separate viewing locations.
White told CBS on Thursday that 5,000 people will be allowed on the White House South Lawn where the Octagon will be built. An additional 85,000 fans will watch from the Ellipse, a 52-acre park located directly south of the White House fence.
“We literally just got done going through all the logistics of how to set it up there, how many people we can have,” White said. “It’s looking like we’ll have 5,000 people live on the White House lawn.”
The UFC will not sell tickets to the general public for either location. Details about who will receive the 5,000 spots on the South Lawn have not been announced.
Massive Fan Zone Planned at Ellipse Park
The Ellipse viewing area will feature large screens for fans to watch the fights. White said the UFC plans to set up a stage with live music throughout the day.
“We’re basically going to take over D.C. that whole week with lots of different things for fight fans,” White said. The fight week celebration will lead up to the Saturday night event, which falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday.
Dana White eyes Washington takeover for #UFCWhiteHouse event
📰 https://t.co/4KOXWFv9Aq pic.twitter.com/KmvgS5UXY5
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 8, 2026
This marks the first time a sporting event will be held at the White House. Trump initially announced plans for the card as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
White said the UFC just completed all logistical planning with officials. The promotion will miss out on a traditional ticket sales gate but views the event as unprecedented.
Fighters to Walk From Oval Office
White revealed unique plans for fighter entrances at the event. “Fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office to the Octagon,” he said.
The UFC has not announced any fights for the card yet. White said matchmaking will likely begin in February.
Former two-division champion Conor McGregor has repeatedly hinted at returning for the White House event. McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in July 2021.
The event will stream on Paramount+ rather than traditional pay-per-view. This decision allows the UFC to avoid charging fans for the unique card while still reaching a wide audience.
Local businesses in Washington D.C. are expected to benefit from the influx of fight fans during that week. Traffic and crowd management around the Ellipse and White House grounds will present challenges for city officials.
The UFC continues to work with federal authorities on security protocols for both viewing areas. The 5,000-person limit on the South Lawn reflects security and space constraints on White House property.
White described the event as “one of one” and promised it would be “unlike anything ever seen before or probably again.” The promotion plans multiple fan activities throughout fight week across Washington D.C.
