It’s time for the Elimination Chamber 2026—and the venue is locked in. On November 13, 2025, WWE officially announced that the event will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
This marks a major shift for the WWE Premium Live Event (PLE) calendar, returning a marquee event to the United States—and specifically to a legendary arena that hasn’t hosted a WWE PLE in more than thirty years.
The Date, the Venue, the Ticket Plan
The date is firm: February 28, 2026. The venue is a big deal: the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, and one of the largest indoor arenas in the U.S.
According to the official WWE media release, tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster starting Thursday, November 20, at 10 a.m. CT. An exclusive presale opens Wednesday, November 19 at 10 a.m. CT, continuing until 11:59 p.m. CT on the same day.
WWE is also offering “Priority Passes” through partner On Location—premium seating, hospitality events, Superstar appearances, and photo ops.
Why Chicago? Why Now?
In the official release, WWE’s Co-Head of Revenue, Alex Varga, said: “Famous for its phenomenally passionate fans, Chicago is a city that WWE Superstars consistently circle on the calendar every year.”
Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of the city’s marketing organization Choose Chicago, added: “Major live events like this showcase Chicago as a year-round destination, filling our hotels, restaurants, and arenas with fans from around the country and broadcasting our energy and hospitality to millions more tuning in.”
The timing carries weight. According to WWE, this will be the first “Premium Live Event to be held at the United Center in more than three decades.” The last sporting event at the arena’s opening was the August 1994 edition of SummerSlam 1994.
A Return to U.S. Soil
The 2026 Elimination Chamber arrives after years of the show being staged outside the U.S. For years, WWE has taken the PLE on the road internationally—Australia, Canada, and Saudi Arabia among them. Now, the Windy City gets one of the early markers on the road to WrestleMania 42.
The Significance for WWE Fans
- Chicago is a hotbed for wrestling fandom—raucous, loyal, and experienced. The promotion is banking on that energy.
- This venue choice suggests WWE is leaning into a big U.S. buildup earlier in the calendar, rather than limiting marquee events to overseas markets.
- The February 28 slot gives the show a prominent stop on the “Road to WrestleMania”, creating narrative potential for storylines heading into April’s WrestleMania.
While no official match card has been announced yet, the buzz is already higher because of the date and venue. Analysts like those at Wrestlenomics note that WWE’s press release “marks the first time a WWE PLE will emanate from the United Center in more than 30 years.”
What to Watch For
With the date and venue locked, fans should keep an eye on a few developments:
- Ticket tiers and availability—especially since presale begins November 19, followed immediately by general sale on November 20.
- Storyline teases on both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, leading into February. The Elimination Chamber match concept alone—multiple participants, cage structure, high stakes—is built for early big angles.
- The possible role of Chicago as a hub for multi-day wrestling programming: some reports suggest WWE may run additional events around the weekend (fan experience shows, maybe even a SmackDown taping).
In Context: WWE’s Premium Live Events 2026 Calendar
According to Wrestlenomics, WWE has already confirmed multiple PLE dates for 2026, with the Royal Rumble set for January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, followed by this Elimination Chamber event on February 28 in Chicago.
It’s shaping up to be a global build-up: from Saudi Arabia to the U.S., and then onward toward WrestleMania. For fans based in Chicago or willing to travel, February could be the place to be.
Final Thoughts
The announcement that Elimination Chamber 2026 will take place at the United Center in Chicago on February 28, 2026, marks a major moment for WWE’s U.S. strategy. With tickets going on sale November 20 and a brand-new weekend of wrestling possibilities unfolding in the Windy City, the stage is set. Whether you’re a local fan or planning to travel, the early details suggest this won’t just be a one-night event—it could become a full-weekend experience.
Keep eyes on WWE’s televised programming, social channels, and ticket portals in the coming weeks. The story isn’t just the date and place—it’s how WWE uses this moment in Chicago to raise stakes, build characters, and turn February into a major stop on the road to WrestleMania.
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