WWE Backlash 2026 Date, Location Announced by Triple H in Video Ahead of Royal Rumble

On the same day the 2026 Royal Rumble takes place, the date and location for the first premium live event after WrestleMania 42 have been revealed.

Triple H announced on X that Backlash will be held on May 9 at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.

This will mark the second straight year there is only a three-week gap between WrestleMania and Backlash.

The 2026 event will be the sixth consecutive year that Backlash has been the follow-up show to WrestleMania. It was known as WrestleMania Backlash in 2021 and 2022 before going back to its traditional title.

Last year marked the first time since 2022 that Cody Rhodes wasn't in the main event. That show was headlined by the John Cena defending his newly-won undisputed WWE title against Randy Orton in the final match of their historic rivalry.

Other matches on the card saw Gunther defeat Pat McAfee via technical submission when McAfee passed out rather than tap, Dominik Mysterio retained the men's intercontinental title against Penta and Lyra Valkyria beat Becky Lynch to retain the women's intercontinental title.

Rhodes defeated Brock Lesnar in the main event of the 2023 show, then defeated AJ Styles in 2024 to retain the undisputed title that he had just won from Roman Reigns in the memorable main event at WrestleMania 40.

Backlash will mark the first major WWE event in the state of Florida since NXT No Mercy last September when Ricky Saints defeated Oba Femi to win the NXT men's title in the main event.

Many of the major storylines through WrestleMania are likely going to be set up at the Royal Rumble on Saturday. The event begins at 2 p.m. ET, with the men's and women's Royal Rumble matches as the key bouts.