UFC Set For Baku Return On June 27 Under New Multi-Year Deal

The return comes less than a year after UFC’s first event in Azerbaijan. UFC’s debut Baku card was held in June 2025 and drew more than 14,000 fans at Baku Crystal Hall, which the company described as a sold-out event. That turnout appears to have helped push talks forward for a longer-term partnership, with UFC president and CEO Dana White and Azerbaijan sports minister Farid Gayibov discussing the success of the first card before agreeing to expand the relationship.

There is one notable change this time. While the 2025 event took place at Baku Crystal Hall, the 2026 return has been booked for the National Gymnastics Arena. That venue switch stands out because early event listings elsewhere had linked the June 27 card to Baku Crystal Hall, but the official announcement places it at the National Gymnastics Arena.

In its release, UFC pointed to strong fan demand in the market, while Baku City Circuit said regional interest and inbound travel have increased ahead of this year’s event. Azerbaijan officials also framed the deal as part of a larger plan to keep building Baku’s profile as a host city for major international sports events.

As of now, UFC has not announced the fight card for the June 27 event. The promotion has directed fans to register interest through UFC’s Baku event page for updates and early ticket access, while more event news is expected closer to fight week.

For UFC, the move gives the company another recurring international destination at a time when it continues to expand its global schedule. For Azerbaijan, it means Baku is no longer a one-off stop on the calendar. If the new agreement holds, the city will host UFC Fight Nights every year through 2028.