FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KC2026 unveils dates, new details for the FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City
A once-in-a-generation global celebration brings the world’s biggest football party to the Heartland
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (February 17, 2026) – KC2026 today confirmed operating days and key details for the FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City, a free celebration at the heart of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City experience will be open at least 18 days in June and July, including Kansas City game days, days when the U.S. Men’s National Team takes the field, and July 4, America’s 250th anniversary.
Designed as a vibrant hub for fans from across the metro, region and the world, the FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City also includes planned nonoperational days, encouraging visitors and locals to explore the Kansas City region via the ConnectKC2026 transportation network.
Interested attendees may register now to receive updates on entertainment programming, operating hours and additional details as they become available.
“Across more than 18 festival days and a wide range of themed programming, the FIFA Fan Festival Kansas City is being designed so everyone can see themselves in the experience — from lifelong global soccer fans to those who are simply curious and want to be part of history in Kansas City,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “With free admission, people can come together, celebrate, and create memories that last well beyond the final whistle. The FIFA Fan Festival is meant to be experienced again and again, with something new to discover each time.”
Themed, weekly programming will create fresh experiences for visitors while showcasing the region on the world stage.
Heartland Hello | June 11-14, 16: A genuine Kansas City welcome will open the city’s FIFA Fan Festival™, making people feel instantly at home through local and global food, familiar traditions and moments of connection, large and small.
Sports Town USA | June 19-21: Kansas City is a place where sports are woven into everyday life, not just during championships or big moments but in the rituals, traditions and community that show up on game day. This theme highlights the region’s deeply rooted sports culture and invites fans to experience what it means to be part of a city that lives for the game.
The World’s Game | June 24-27: Soccer is a shared global language, shaped by tradition, creativity and ritual. From chants and colors to movement and rhythm, this theme highlights the cultural expression that surrounds the game in every corner of the world.
Home Team | July 3-5: We will capture the spirit of a backyard Fourth of July celebration and invite fans to enjoy the game with a distinctly American point of view.
KC Creates | July 9-11: Kansas City is a place where creativity is alive, thriving and constantly evolving. It showcases local artists, musicians, designers and innovators alongside global influences, revealing how ideas made in Kansas City contribute to culture far beyond the city.
FIFA Fan Festival™ Schedule:
The Ultimate Fan Experience
Working with KC2026, Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter Populous has designed the city’s FIFA Fan Festival™, leveraging their global expertise and local insight to help Kansas City deliver an unforgettable experience for fans from around the world. FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City will offer:
- Live watch parties for FIFA World Cup™ matches and performances across two large stages and nearly 4,500 square feet of video boards
- Photo ops, including a grand, 65-foot-tall heart-shaped entrance
- Cooling and comfort opportunities with shaded zones and fan walls
- Fan-favorite merch, trophy displays, skills challenges, 3v3 pitches, multisport games and playful fan competitions
- Elevated hospitality, VIP watch parties, business and celebrity experiences
For those who want to guarantee attendance on a specific day and enjoy an enhanced experience, limited premium passes will be available for purchase in the coming weeks. Premium sales are highly limited per day, offering an exclusive viewing and hospitality upgrade, which is truly the best seat outside of the stadium. Perks will include guaranteed entrance, exclusive shaded viewing zone, private bar, additional food options and limited access merchandise.
Attendance at the Kansas City FIFA Fan Festival™ will be free, but KC2026 will require registration through the Kansas City section of the FIFA app (for iOS and Android). Additional FIFA Fan Festival™ details, including hours, will be confirmed in the coming months.
Host City Supporters
Official Supporters of the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City are more than sponsors; they are key civic and brand partners helping bring FIFA World Cup 26™ to life in Kansas City. At FIFA Fan Festival™ Kansas City, Black & Veatch and other KC2026 Host City Supporters will showcase what makes Kansas City great through immersive storytelling, regional pride and milestone moments leading up to matches.
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About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering Host City duties for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history.
KC2026 planning efforts are supported by its Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Black & Veatch, JE Dunn Construction, Purina PetCare, Populous and The University of Kansas Health System. These global and regional companies are leaders in their respective industries and represent key sectors of KC’s economy. Host City Supporters are civic and brand partners that are helping bring the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to life in Kansas City. Learn more at KansasCityFWC26.com.
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes guests by air, while 85% of the U.S. is less than a two-day drive away. The region’s red-hot sports culture is embraced every season, headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
About FIFA World Cup 2026™
FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams, and games, FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 2026™ information, please visit the FIFA World Cup 2026™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up to date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.
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