The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Sports›Wrestling›Royal Rumble 2026
Sports • Wrestling

Royal Rumble 2026

Royal Rumble 2026 was a WWE professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming event held on January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Royal Rumble 2026 was a WWE professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming event held on January 31, 2026, at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was the 39th annual Royal Rumble and featured men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, with the winners earning championship opportunities at WrestleMania 42. The event was promoted as Royal Rumble: Riyadh as part of the 2025–2026 Riyadh Season.

Background

Royal Rumble 2026 was the 39th Royal Rumble event produced by WWE. It was staged in Riyadh as part of the 2025–2026 Riyadh Season and was promoted as a major premium live event leading into WrestleMania 42.

Match card

The event featured the traditional men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, plus championship and career-stakes matches. The advertised card included the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn and a career match between AJ Styles and Gunther.

Results

Roman Reigns won the men’s Royal Rumble and Liv Morgan won the women’s Royal Rumble, giving both a future WrestleMania title opportunity. Other reported results included McIntyre retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship and Gunther defeating AJ Styles.

Broadcast and reception

The event was presented as a livestreaming and pay-per-view show for WWE audiences. Coverage emphasized its significance as the first Royal Rumble held outside North America.

Key facts

  • Royal Rumble 2026 was held on January 31, 2026, at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • It was the 39th annual Royal Rumble and the first held outside North America.
  • Roman Reigns won the men’s Royal Rumble match.
  • Liv Morgan won the women’s Royal Rumble match.
  • Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
🍁
Canadian context

The event was available to Canadian wrestling fans through WWE’s international streaming distribution, and its results shaped the road to WrestleMania 42, which is of broad interest to Canadian viewers following WWE.

Frequently asked questions

When was Royal Rumble 2026 held?
It was held on January 31, 2026.
Where did Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
It took place at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Who won the men’s Royal Rumble match in 2026?
Roman Reigns won the men’s Royal Rumble match.
Who won the women’s Royal Rumble match in 2026?
Liv Morgan won the women’s Royal Rumble match.
What was the main championship match on the card?
Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Why was Royal Rumble 2026 notable?
It was the first Royal Rumble event held outside North America.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Rumble_(2026)
    Supports: Date, venue, city, country, annual edition, and branding as Royal Rumble: Riyadh.
  2. WWE — https://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/royal-rumble-2026
    Supports: Official event highlights and match winners including Roman Reigns, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, and Gunther.
  3. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/wwe-royal-rumble-2026-date-news-card-matches
    Supports: Venue location, event results, and reported match outcomes.
  4. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/47701110/when-wwe-royal-rumble-2026-how-watch-espn
    Supports: Date, start time, and WrestleMania 42 implications of the Royal Rumble winners.