KC2026 World Cup Fan Fest: Preliminary dates and updates galore

Rendering of KC2026 Fan Fest // Courtesy of KC2026

Local World Cup planning org KC2026 has announced preliminary dates for its FIFA Fan Fest, and a series of themes to boot.

The Fan Fest will be open for 18 days at the WWI Museum and Memorial, but only for matches taking place in Kansas City or those involving the US Men’s National Team. Fan Fest dates revolving around those matches will be organized into scheduled blocks of different themes. To that end, KC2026 is currently working out a plan for local participation with its arts, culture, and heritage working group. 

“This is where you start to see the World Cup come to life, and you start to see Kansas City’s unique culture and flavor embedded into that.” says Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. 

Kramer notes, however, that the themes won’t be an overt part of festival programming. Rather, Kramer describes the move as a form of “subtle messaging” for activities and a source of appeal to locals who might not be soccer fans. 

According to the press release, the dates and themes are as follows: 

• Jun. 11-14, and Jun. 16. Heartland Hello offers “a genuine Kansas City welcome” focused on “local and global food, familiar traditions, and moments of connection.”

• Jun. 19-21. Sports Town USA highlights the city’s “deeply rooted sports culture.”

• Jun. 24-27. The World’s Game is dedicated to “the cultural expression that surrounds the game in every corner of the world.”

• Jul. 3-5. Home Team will “capture the spirit of a backyard Fourth of July Celebration” with a “distinctly American” way of watching the game.

• July 9-11. KC Creates will showcase local artists and musicians “alongside global influences.”

The KC2026 Fan Fest schedule for June 2026 // Courtesy of KC2026

The Fan Fest schedule for July 2026 // Courtesy of KC2026

Other highlights of the fest, Kramer says, include a 65-foot-tall heart-shaped entrance, 3v3 pitches, and a main stage with a screen twice the size of Chappell Roan’s sold out show of 30,000—also at the WWI Museum. It should be noted, though, that the Fan Fest will be capped off at 25,000. 

Mallory Cage, Director of Fan Festival and Events, has also worked out more practical plans for cooling stations, language services, and lost child reunification. 

“In the event someone gets separated from their family, we can make that moment into a positive memory of the way Kansas City responds to something like that,” Kramer says. 

Attendance is free, but visitors will also have the option to purchase limited premium passes for guaranteed entrance and other viewing perks. However, KC2026 will require all registration through the FIFA app, available for iOS and Android. 

While tickets—free and upgraded—aren’t available yet, fans can now sign up for updates. 

In the meantime, the original FIFA World Cup trophy is making the rounds for fan viewing across the world with a stop in Kansas City on Apr. 18 and 19. More information is available here. 

 And with 113 days to go, there is still, of course, much more to come.