NJPW has announced that the G1 Climax 36 Opening Night will take place at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois (just outside of Chicago), on Saturday, July 11.
In addition, NJPW revealed the Death Vegas Invitacional has also been confirmed for Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 16 at a venue yet to be announced.
You can read the full announcement from NJPW below, that also includes other major events.
G1 in Chicago heads up big 2026 event announcements! Death Vegas Invitacional confirmed!
As revealed during Wrestle Kingdom, the first wave of major event announcements for 2026 has seen the explosive addition of G1 Climax 36 openight night in the NOW Arena in Chicago, only the second time the G1 has seen action outside Japan, and the first since 2019, when opening night was in Dallas Texas!
That’s not all, as fans found out that El Desperado was planning the next stage of his Invitacional events. After Desperado Invitacional, and Death Pain Invitacional in Korakuen 2-24 and 2025, April 2026 will see Death Vegas Invitacional in Sin City! Get set for this one of a kind event in Vegas April 16!
Take a look at the big match schedule so far for 2026 and stay tuned for ticket information!
Wednesday February 11・ NEW BEGINNING IN OSAKA・ EDION Arena, Osaka
Friday February 27・ NEW BEGINNING USA・ CURE Arena, Trenton NJ
Friday March 6 ・NJPW 54TH ANNIVERSARY・ Ota General Gymnasium, Tokyo
Friday March 20, Saturday March 21・ NEW JAPAN CUP 2026 SEMI FINAL & FINAL・Ao-re Nagaoka, Niigata
Saturday April 4・SAKURA GENESIS 2026・Ryogoku Sumo Hall, Tokyo
Thursday April 16・DEATH VEGAS INVCITACIONAL・Las Vegas venue TBA
Saturday April 25・ WRESTLING REDZONE ・Sun Plaza Hall, Hiroshima
Sunday May 3, Monday May 4・WRESTLING DONTAKU 2026・International Center, Fukuoka
Sunday June 7 ・BEST OF THE SUPER JR. 33 FINAL ・Ota General Gymnasium, Tokyo
Sunday June 14・ DOMINION・ Osaka -Jo Hall
Saturday July 11 ・G1 CLIMAX 36 NIGHT 1・ NOW Arena, Chicago
Saturday August 15, Sunday August 16・G1 CLIMAX 36 FINALS・ Ryogoku Sumo Hall, Tokyo