Summary

WWE has announced that SmackDown will be taped from the O2 Arena in London, England on Tuesday, June 23, one night after Raw runs the same building.

The event is still being advertised as Friday Night SmackDown, even though the show will be taped earlier in the week. WWE also confirmed that Sheffield's Utilita Arena will host a live event on Wednesday, June 24 as part of the company's European Summer Tour.

The London stop adds another date to WWE's busy international schedule, and it comes after the company also set an August run through Canada with SmackDown and Raw dates.

It is not yet known whether the June 23 episode will air live on Netflix or follow the same delayed approach as a standard taped broadcast.

Quote from WWE

"May 7, 2026, WWE today announced that SmackDown will head to London's O2 Arena on Tuesday, June 23, the night after Raw emanates from the same venue."

"Additionally, Sheffield's Utilita Arena will host a live event as part of WWE's upcoming European Summer Tour on Wednesday, June 24."

"Fans can purchase tickets for SmackDown in London and the event in Sheffield during an exclusive presale starting on Tuesday, May 12, at 10am BST. Tickets will be available on general sale starting Thursday, May 14, at 10am BST by visiting www.wwe.com/events."

"The new dates for London and Sheffield join the previously announced European Summer Tour which will see events across May and June in the UK, Spain, France, Portugal and WWE's first-ever Premium Live Event in Italy."

What the London SmackDown taping means for Night of Champions

This scheduling choice keeps SmackDown in London only four days before Night of Champions on June 27, while avoiding the need to stage the Friday show in Saudi Arabia. That lines up with the previously stated plan for WWE not to run both Raw and SmackDown in Saudi around that event.

It also gives WWE a compact European stretch with Raw, a taped SmackDown, and the Sheffield live event all falling in the same week. For fans, that likely means the June 23 taping will serve as one of the last major television stops before the Night of Champions card is finalized.

Sources

WWE Press Release