Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre (Image Source: Getty)

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is gearing up to be one of the biggest iterations of the pay-per-view in history as WWE lands its signature January event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The live event will take place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium as part of the Riyadh Season, which includes more than 100 events over a two-month span featuring world-class entertainment and sports properties. The show, which includes championship implications, surprise returns, and two 30-person Rumble matches on its card, figures to have a significant impact when it comes to shaping the road toward WrestleMania.For a change, WWE has drafted a multi-tiered broadcast plan for Royal Rumble 2026 instead of the traditional Wrestlemania this year. Fans should also know that the kickoff shows are distinct from the primary premium live event. The kickoff and countdown shows are more preview coverage and analysis, with the Royal Rumble matches themselves coming during the main card. Americans watching will need to understand this timing difference, or they may find themselves on the losing end of the opening bell.

Royal Rumble 2026 kickoff show and pre-event schedule

The Royal Rumble weekend will kick off on Friday, January 30, with a special kickoff preview show. This show is meant to generate excitement through expert panels, match analysis, and superstar interviews. It is not the main Royal Rumble event, and does not include the two Royal Rumble matches.On Saturday, January 31, WWE will be broadcasting the official Countdown to Royal Rumble pre-show. The broadcast starts at 12:00 p.m. ET and lasts about two hours. The pre-show might feature quick matches, one or two backstage interviews, and the last snippets of storyline development before things get going on the main card.The Royal Rumble 2026 main event is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 31. The official Countdown to Royal Rumble pre-show will start earlier at 12:00 p.m. ET, running for approximately two hours before the main card goes live.

How to watch Royal Rumble 2026 and event details

In the U.S., Royal Rumble 2026 will be available to stream live on-demand exclusively through ESPN+ for subscribers with select plans. Overseas, the event will air live on Netflix in countries where WWE programming is streamed through the service.Riyadh’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is hosting the spectacle. The booking is through KSA official event partners and on the Riyadh Season schedule.