UFC Faces $30M Loss from Freedom 250 White House Event

The UFC experienced a $30 million loss from the Freedom 250 event held at the White House in June 2026, attended by approximately 4,300 guests, including President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance. The event, part of the 250th anniversary of American independence, had initial costs projected to exceed $60 million.

Although UFC anticipated losses, TKO Group Holdings reported a 29% year-over-year revenue increase for the second quarter of 2026, totaling $535.7 million. This increase was attributed to a $64.7 million rise in media rights, largely due to a $7.7 billion, seven-year contract signed with Paramount, which will become the new home of UFC in 2026.

The Freedom 250 event attracted an average of 34 million viewers globally and was shown exclusively on Paramount+. Andrew Schleimer, CFO of TKO Group, noted that the event's high-profile nature resulted in significantly higher costs, which were partially offset by sold-out global partnerships.