TotalSportek UFC Schedule 2026: Event Dates & UK Times
The UFC schedule 2026 continues through late August, September and October with Fight Nights, numbered cards and events in the United States, China, France, Canada and Abu Dhabi. For UK fans, the awkward part is often the time rather than the date: a card advertised for Saturday night in America can have its main event in the early hours of Sunday morning in Britain.
This guide converts confirmed cards into UK dates and times, separates prelims from main cards, and marks unconfirmed start times rather than guessing.
Updated: 21 August 2026.
AI Snapshot: UFC Schedule 2026
The next UFC event is Hernandez v Rodrigues in Sacramento on Saturday 22 August, with prelims beginning at 10pm BST and the main card at 1am BST on Sunday 23 August for UK viewers. Shanghai follows on 29 August with a much easier 11am BST main card, while UFC Paris starts at 8pm BST on 5 September. UFC 331 on 19 September returns to the familiar late-night pattern, with the main card starting at 2am BST on Sunday 20 September.
UFC Schedule 2026: Confirmed Upcoming Events
The table below puts the remaining confirmed UFC dates into a UK-friendly format. Where UFC has not yet confirmed an exact card time, it is marked TBC rather than estimated.
| Event | Event date | Venue | UK prelims | UK main card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC Fight Night: Hernandez v Rodrigues | Saturday 22 August | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento | 10pm BST | 1am BST, Sunday 23 August |
| UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov v Song | Saturday 29 August | Shanghai Oriental Sports Center | 8am BST | 11am BST |
| UFC Fight Night: Hooker v Parnasse | Saturday 5 September | Accor Arena, Paris | 5pm BST | 8pm BST |
| Noche UFC: Rodriguez v Silva | Saturday 12 September | Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale | TBC | 10pm BST |
| UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | Saturday 19 September | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles | 12am BST, Sunday | 2am BST, Sunday 20 September |
| UFC Fight Night: Rosas Jr v Barcelos | Saturday 26 September | Meta APEX, Las Vegas | 10pm BST | 1am BST, Sunday 27 September |
| UFC 332 | Saturday 3 October | Delta Center, Salt Lake City | TBC | TBC |
| UFC Fight Night 290 | Saturday 10 October | Meta APEX, Las Vegas | TBC | TBC |
| UFC Fight Night: Buckley v Malott | Saturday 17 October | Rogers Place, Edmonton | TBC | TBC |
| UFC 333: Volkanovski v Evloev | Saturday 24 October | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi | 3pm BST currently listed | 7pm BST currently listed |
The schedule becomes less complete further into the year. Later 2026 events are not added here until their dates are supported by current UFC or broadcaster information.
That matters for an evergreen schedule page. Publishing an expected November or December card as confirmed simply because a venue or fighter has been discussed would make the calendar less useful, not more useful.
Next UFC Event: Hernandez v Rodrigues
The next card takes place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday 22 August local time.
For UK viewers, the prelims begin at 10pm BST on Saturday. The main card starts at 1am BST on Sunday 23 August because Sacramento is eight hours behind the UK during British Summer Time.
This is a good example of why UFC dates can be confusing. American listings call it a Saturday event, but the main card belongs to Sunday morning on a British calendar.
UFC Shanghai Gives UK Fans a Morning Card
UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov v Song on Saturday 29 August is almost the opposite.
The Shanghai prelims begin at 8am BST and the main card starts at 11am BST. There is no need for UK fans to stay awake through the night.
Asian UFC events can produce unusually friendly British viewing times because the time difference pushes the action into the UK morning rather than the early hours.
UFC Paris Starts at 8pm in the UK
UFC Paris on Saturday 5 September is even easier to follow.
The prelims begin at 5pm BST and the Hooker v Parnasse main card starts at 8pm BST. Paris is only one hour ahead of the UK during summer, so British viewers get a normal Saturday evening card.
For fans used to 1am or 3am UFC starts, European cards are a very different experience.
UFC Numbered Events in 2026
Numbered UFC events are the promotion's larger cards and commonly feature title fights or other high-profile bouts. Several have already taken place in 2026, with UFC 331, UFC 332 and UFC 333 still on the confirmed calendar after 21 August.
| Event | Date | Location / Venue | Headline bout |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC 324 | 24 January | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas | Gaethje v Pimblett |
| UFC 325 | 31 January | Sydney | Volkanovski v Lopes 2 |
| UFC 326 | 7 March | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas | Holloway v Oliveira 2 |
| UFC 327 | 11 April | Miami | Prochazka v Ulberg |
| UFC 328 | 9 May | Prudential Center, Newark | Chimaev v Strickland |
| UFC Freedom 250 | 14 June | Washington, D.C. | Special numbered event |
| UFC 329 | 11 July | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas | McGregor v Holloway 2 |
| UFC 330 | 15 August | Philadelphia | Makhachev v Machado Garry |
| UFC 331 | 19 September | Los Angeles | Van v Pantoja 2 |
| UFC 332 | 3 October | Salt Lake City | Main event TBC |
| UFC 333 | 24 October | Abu Dhabi | Volkanovski v Evloev |
A numbered event does not guarantee exactly the same UK start time every month. Venue location controls much of the timing.
UFC 329 in Las Vegas, for example, had a 2am UK main card, while UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi is currently listed for 7pm BST.
How Does a UFC Fight Card Work?
A UFC card is split into sections, with the highest-profile fights placed later in the event.
The exact number of fights changes if bouts are cancelled, replaced or moved, so the safest way to plan your evening is around the published start time for each section rather than a fixed number of bouts.
Early Prelims
Early prelims are the first part of some major UFC cards, especially numbered events.
They normally feature bouts lower down the running order. UFC Fight Pass often carries this portion in markets where the rights allow it.
For UFC 330, for example, the official viewing schedule listed early prelims before the standard prelims and main card.
Not every Fight Night needs a separate early-prelims section.
Prelims
The prelims sit immediately before the main card.
These fights matter because they can include ranked competitors, prospects and fighters trying to move towards the main-card level. They also help explain why an advertised “UFC start time” can be misleading.
A listing might say a card begins at 10pm UK time, but that could mean the prelims. The fights most viewers think of as the headline card may not begin until 1am or 2am.
Main Card
The main card contains the featured fights and finishes with the main event.
On numbered events, title fights are commonly placed at the top of the card. Co-main events and other high-profile bouts fill the positions immediately below them.
The main-card time is therefore the number most UK viewers need when deciding whether to stay awake, record the event or watch later.
What Time Do UFC Main Cards Start in the UK?
There is no single UFC main card time in the UK. Start times depend heavily on where the event is taking place.
North American cards are the ones most likely to become late-night Sunday viewing in Britain.
| Event region | Typical UK viewing pattern | 2026 example |
|---|---|---|
| US West Coast | Late Saturday prelims, Sunday early-hours main card | UFC 331: 2am BST main card |
| US East/Central | Often around 1am–3am UK time | UFC 330: 2am UK main card |
| Continental Europe | Saturday evening | UFC Paris: 8pm BST |
| China / East Asia | Saturday morning or lunchtime | UFC Shanghai: 11am BST |
| Abu Dhabi | Afternoon or evening | UFC 333 currently listed at 7pm BST |
These are examples rather than a rule for every future card. UFC can choose different local start times for television, venue or commercial reasons.
Why a Saturday UFC Event Can Be on Sunday in the UK
This is the main timing mistake UK fans make.
If a UFC card in Las Vegas begins at 5pm or 6pm local time on Saturday, Britain is already several hours ahead. By the time the main card starts, it can be 1am or 2am on Sunday in the UK.
UFC 331 is a clear example. The event itself is dated Saturday 19 September in Los Angeles, but its 2am BST main card falls on Sunday 20 September for British viewers.
For that reason, this schedule shows the UK date as well as the UK time whenever a card crosses midnight.
BST and GMT Can Change UFC Start Times
UK readers also need to watch the switch between British Summer Time and Greenwich Mean Time.
A US event held in August or September is converted against BST. Cards later in autumn and winter may fall under GMT instead.
The difference is easy to miss if a US website simply gives an Eastern or Pacific Time start.
There is another complication: the UK and United States do not always change their clocks on the same weekend. During those short periods, the normal time difference between Britain and parts of America can temporarily shift by an hour.
The practical fix is simple. Recheck the UK time during fight week, particularly for cards around the spring and autumn clock changes.
Where Can You Watch UFC in the UK in 2026?
TNT Sports remains the key licensed UFC broadcaster for UK viewers in 2026. TNT's current schedule says UFC cards are available through TNT Sports, with HBO Max serving as the streaming home for TNT Sports content in the UK.
Selected major events can also be placed on TNT Sports Box Office rather than being included in the normal channel package.
UFC 330 is an example: its main card was offered through TNT Sports Box Office, while the prelims had separate TNT Sports and UFC Fight Pass availability.
Always check the individual event listing before fight night because:
- A numbered card can have different access from a Fight Night.
- Early prelim availability can differ from the main card.
- Selected events may use TNT Sports Box Office.
- UFC Fight Pass access can depend on the part of the card and territory.
TotalSportek is written for a UK audience and covers UFC alongside other major sports, including schedules and legal viewing information.
What About Paramount+?
UK fans may see official UFC pages mentioning Paramount+ in 2026, but that does not mean Paramount+ holds the same UFC rights in Britain.
UFC's major 2026 Paramount agreement made Paramount+ the home of UFC numbered events and Fight Nights in the United States. UK viewing rights are separate.
For British viewers, check TNT Sports, HBO Max, TNT Sports Box Office and the event's official UK listing rather than following a US-only “watch on Paramount+” message.
UFC Fight Night vs Numbered Events
UFC Fight Nights and numbered events belong to the same promotion, but they are packaged differently.
A numbered event such as UFC 331 or UFC 333 is usually positioned as a larger card. Championship bouts and major pay-per-view-level match-ups are more likely to appear there.
Fight Nights run more regularly and can be staged in UFC's Meta APEX as well as major arenas around the world.
That does not mean a Fight Night is automatically less relevant. The UFC uses them for ranked match-ups, prospective title challengers, regional events and cards built around fighters with strong local support.
For UK timing purposes, the label matters less than the venue. A Paris Fight Night can be easier for a British viewer to watch than a major numbered card staged in Las Vegas.
FAQ
What is the next UFC event in 2026?
The next UFC event is UFC Fight Night: Hernandez v Rodrigues on Saturday 22 August 2026 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. UK prelims begin at 10pm BST on Saturday, with the main card starting at 1am BST on Sunday 23 August.
What time do UFC main cards start in the UK?
US-based UFC main cards often start between about 1am and 3am UK time, although there is no fixed start. European cards can begin in the evening, while events in Asia may start during the morning. Always check the venue and confirmed UK listing for that specific card.
What time is UFC 331 in the UK?
UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 has a 2am BST main-card start on Sunday 20 September for UK viewers. The prelims begin at 12am BST, with early prelims scheduled from 10pm BST on Saturday 19 September.
What is the difference between UFC prelims and the main card?
Prelims are the fights immediately before the featured main card. The main card contains the night's leading bouts and ends with the main event. Some numbered UFC events also include an earlier group called the early prelims, creating three separate start times for the same event.
Are UFC Fight Nights on TNT Sports in the UK?
TNT Sports carries UFC coverage in the UK, with current broadcaster information also pointing to HBO Max for streaming. Exact access can vary by event, and selected major cards may be placed on TNT Sports Box Office, so check the official UK listing before the event.
Why does a UFC event say Saturday when the UK main card is Sunday?
UFC normally advertises the date where the event takes place. North America is several hours behind the UK, so a Saturday evening card in Las Vegas or Los Angeles can continue into Sunday morning in Britain. The UK date should therefore be checked separately from the local event date.
Keep Checking the UFC Schedule as Cards Are Confirmed
The UFC schedule 2026 still has several confirmed Fight Nights and numbered events ahead, but fight cards and start times can change. Injuries can alter bouts, broadcasters can update timings and later events may be announced as the year progresses.
For UK fans, the three details worth checking again during fight week are the UK date, the main-card start time and the licensed broadcaster. That avoids the most common mistake: planning for Saturday night when the headline fights actually begin on Sunday morning.
