| 2026 World Club Challenge | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The MKM Stadium will host the match | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Date | 19 February 2026 | |||||||||
| Stadium | MKM Stadium | |||||||||
| Broadcast partners | ||||||||||
The 2026 World Club Challenge will be the 31st staging of the World Club Challenge, an annual rugby league match between the reigning champions of the Super League and the National Rugby League. [1] [2]
Under the agreement between the Super League and NRL regarding scheduling the World Club Challenge after the COVID-19 pandemic, the respective champions would alternate hosting responsibilities across each year. As such, NRL champions Brisbane Broncos's home ground, Lang Park, became an early favourite to host the game; [3] with reigning champions Wigan Warriors's DW Stadium having hosted in 2024. [4] However, following Hull Kingston Rovers becoming Super League champions Brisbane expressed a willingness to travel for the fixture to ease logistical issues with Hull KR playing at NRL's Las Vegas weekend, [5] a factor which resulted in Penrith Panthers withdrawing from the 2025 event. [6] As a result, Hull KR's cross town rivals larger MKM Stadium emerged as the choice venue, along with a soft date of 21 February. [5] In November, a month after the Grand Finals, Brisbane confirmed they would travel to the United Kingdom for the match, aimed some fears of a second consecutive cancellation. [7]
Wembley Stadium and Elland Road were also touted as potential venues, with Lang Park removed from the running as a result of the soft date for the game clashing with an Ed Sheeran concert at the ground. [8]
Playing the game at the Las Vegas weekend has also been considered earlier in the season, [9] with Qatar also bidding to host the competition. [10]
Following confirmation of the match, Hull KR's chief executive revealed that the club's groud of Craven Park was never under consideration as due to the ground's size it would never have been financially viable for a match of that magnitude. He stated, the priority was to keep the match in Kingston upon Hull with the city never having hosted the tournament, and Elland Road was the second choice venue. [11]
Hull KR will be responsible for covering Brisbane's travel and accommodation for the game. [11]
