WWE Friday Night SmackDown is heading to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 6:30 PM CT. This is not just any SmackDown—it’s the first SmackDown episode after WrestleMania 42, making it one of the most anticipated shows of the entire year. WWE officially announced this date on February 26, 2026, as part of a wave of eleven new post-WrestleMania tour dates. With WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas wrapping up on April 19, the Fort Worth crowd will be the very first SmackDown audience to witness the championship fallout, surprise returns, and new rivalries that erupt after The Showcase of the Immortals.
SmackDown airs live every Friday on the USA Network, featuring a stacked roster that includes Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline, Bayley, and Kevin Owens. The post-WrestleMania edition of SmackDown is legendary for delivering the kinds of moments that reshape the landscape of WWE for months to come—NXT call-ups making their main roster debuts, returning legends stepping back through the curtain, and newly crowned champions defending their gold for the first time.
Dickies Arena is a 14,000-seat multipurpose arena located within the historic Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth’s famed Cultural District. Opened in 2019, the venue was purpose-built with concert-hall acoustics, a flexible three-level seating bowl, 36 luxury suites, 32 loge boxes, and the second-largest continuous 360-degree video screen in North America. Dickies Arena has already made WWE history as the host of the 2021 Money in the Bank pay-per-view—the first WWE PPV held outside Florida after the pandemic—and Friday Night SmackDown returns to this state-of-the-art venue with even bigger stakes.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10:00 AM local time through Ticketmaster, with a presale beginning Thursday, March 5. Post-WrestleMania shows are among the fastest-selling events on the WWE calendar, so fans looking for premium or sold-out sections can also find verified resale tickets on BigStub—a trusted marketplace with all-inclusive pricing, no hidden fees, and buyer protection on every purchase.
Every year, the first Raw and SmackDown after WrestleMania deliver some of the most memorable moments in wrestling. Past post-WrestleMania shows have featured the debut of legendary names, shocking heel turns, title changes, and emotional returns that send the crowd into a frenzy. As the very first SmackDown following WrestleMania 42, the Fort Worth show on April 24 will carry all of that energy. The WrestleMania card includes CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship and Liv Morgan challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship—and whatever happens in Vegas will directly impact what unfolds at Dickies Arena just five days later.
Dickies Arena sits on the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, surrounded by world-class museums including the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Amon Carter Museum. The arena was the result of a public-private partnership approved by Fort Worth voters in 2014 and designed by award-winning architect David M. Schwarz, incorporating Southwest Art Deco elements that complement the 1930s-era buildings on the campus.
The venue’s three-level seating bowl—plaza level (100-sections), suite and loge box level, and gallery level (200-sections)—provides 14,000 seats for center-stage events with excellent sightlines from every angle. The arena includes two premium entertainment clubs near the north and south entrances, 75 concession points of sale, and a 2,200-car parking garage. A massive underground multi-purpose event space sits beneath an 85,000-square-foot landscaped outdoor plaza with views of downtown Fort Worth. Dickies Arena serves as the home of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and has hosted major touring acts, PBR World Finals, NCAA events, and of course, WWE.
Dickies Arena is located at 1911 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107, within the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus. The venue is accessible from I-30, with Trail Drive providing direct access to the Chevrolet Garage (the on-site, 2,200-space parking structure) just south of the arena. Additional yellow parking lots are located across Trail Drive. For fans arriving from Dallas or elsewhere in the Metroplex, the venue is approximately 35 minutes west of downtown Dallas via I-30. Rideshare drop-off and pickup areas are available near the arena entrances.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026, at 6:30 PM CT at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. This is the first SmackDown episode after WrestleMania 42, which takes place April 18–19 in Las Vegas.
Dickies Arena is located at 1911 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107, within the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. It is accessible from I-30 and includes a 2,200-car on-site parking garage.
Dickies Arena is a 14,000-seat multipurpose arena with a flexible three-level seating bowl featuring plaza sections, a suite and loge box level, and gallery sections. The venue also includes 36 luxury suites and 32 loge boxes.
General public tickets go on sale Friday, March 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM local time through Ticketmaster. A presale begins Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 AM. Verified resale tickets are also available on BigStub at all-inclusive prices.
Yes. WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18–19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Fort Worth SmackDown on April 24 is the very first episode of SmackDown following WrestleMania, making it one of the most anticipated shows of the year for new storylines, championship fallout, and surprise appearances.
Yes. Dickies Arena hosted the WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view event on July 18, 2021, making it the first WWE PPV held outside Florida since the start of the pandemic. The arena’s world-class production capabilities and intimate seating configuration make it an ideal venue for WWE events.
The SmackDown roster in 2026 includes Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Bayley, Kevin Owens, and many more. Match cards for weekly SmackDown episodes are typically confirmed closer to the event date.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown airs live on the USA Network every Friday at 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT. Fans attending at Dickies Arena will experience everything live as it airs nationally.
No. BigStub is an independent resale marketplace not affiliated with WWE. BigStub connects fans with verified sellers offering authentic tickets at competitive prices with all-inclusive pricing and full buyer protection.
Yes. The Chevrolet Garage, a 2,200-space parking structure, is located just south of the arena and is accessible from Trail Drive. Additional surface lots are available across Trail Drive. Rideshare drop-off and pickup zones are located near the arena entrances for convenient access.
No outside food or beverages are permitted at Dickies Arena. Video cameras and recording devices are also prohibited, though still cameras may be allowed for some events. The venue has 75 concession points of sale offering a wide range of food and beverage options throughout the arena.
Doors typically open 60 to 90 minutes before event time. For a 6:30 PM start, plan to arrive by 5:00 PM to allow time for parking, security, and settling into your seats. Pre-show dark matches sometimes begin before the televised broadcast, rewarding early arrivals with bonus action.
See WWE live at Dickies Arena!