WWE Signs Five-Year Deal with ESPN to Broadcast WWE PLEs in U.S. Starting in 2026

WWE reportedly recently signed a new media rights deal with ESPN to air their Premium Live Events (PLEs) on ESPN’s new streaming service in the United States starting in 2026, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It was reported that this deal is five-years in length and worth $1.6 billion in total at $325 million per year.

It was also reported that an official start date was not announced bit it is currently expected to be with WrestleMania 42 in April of 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was also reported that select WWE events will also be simulcast on ESPN’s linear networks. In an official announcement from ESPN, this new deal may also include ESPN streaming both pre and post-shows for WWE PLEs. WWE reportedly will continue to produce all of their events.

In regards to ESPN’s new streaming service, ESPN recently announced that it will be called “ESPN” and will launch on August 21st at $29.99 per month and $300 per year for subscriptions. Those with existing access to ESPN through a traditional cable or satellite package will get access to the new service at no additional cost.

ESPN’s official press release:

ESPN joins with WWE; to stream WrestleMania beginning in 2026
ESPN

WrestleMania will be part of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service starting in 2026 thanks to an agreement between World Wrestling Entertainment and ESPN.

The deal, announced Wednesday, includes two-night events such as WrestleMania and SummerSlam, plus other WWE premium live events including Royal Rumble, Survivor Series and Money in the Bank. WWE will produce the events for ESPN platforms, which will serve as their exclusive U.S. domestic home.

“WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.”

Also included is the opportunity for ESPN to stream WWE’s pre- and post-event shows for all premium live events.

“We are proud to reinforce the ‘E’ in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey,” Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO, said in a statement. “WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”

ESPN will launch its streaming service on Aug. 21 with a $29.99 per month price point and will keep the linear network’s name: ESPN.
The direct-to-consumer service will allow users to get all seven of ESPN’s domestic linear networks in addition to ESPN on ABC and several other streaming options.

The WWE events previously streamed on Peacock in 2025.