Felix Upton on February 26, 2026
WWE has changed the start time for WrestleMania 42, moving the event to an earlier afternoon slot in Las Vegas.
The two-night premium live event is now listed as beginning at 2:30 PM local time on both Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium. This marks a notable shift from WWE’s traditional WrestleMania schedule, which typically begins later in the afternoon or early evening local time. At this point, WWE has not confirmed whether the 2:30 PM start time applies to the main card or the Kickoff pre-show. Based on previous WrestleMania formats, the early listing likely reflects the start of the Kickoff show, with the main card expected to begin later in the evening.
The schedule change could allow WWE more flexibility in structuring each night of WrestleMania. Since adopting the two-night format in 2020, WWE has generally featured around seven matches per night. An earlier start time would give the company additional room to expand the card, add more matches, or allow for longer entrances and storytelling without pushing the show too late into the night.
WrestleMania 42 will once again take place at Allegiant Stadium, marking the second consecutive year the Las Vegas venue hosts WWE’s biggest event. The decision to return to Las Vegas followed the strong financial performance of WrestleMania 41, which prompted WWE to relocate WrestleMania 42 from its originally planned location in New Orleans.
Several major matches have already been confirmed. Roman Reigns is set to challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship after winning the 2026 Royal Rumble, while Liv Morgan will face Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship. Drew McIntyre and Jade Cargill are also scheduled to defend their titles against challengers to be determined at Elimination Chamber.
WWE’s decision to move WrestleMania 42 to an earlier start time signals a significant scheduling adjustment that could impact the overall structure of the event and how fans experience both nights.
What do you think about WWE moving WrestleMania 42 to an earlier start time? Does it make the event easier to watch, or do you prefer the traditional evening start?
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