AEW PPV Chicago • August 2026

AEW All Out 2026

AEW's summer blockbuster PPV returns to Chicago — the Now Arena, the most passionate AEW fanbase in the world, for one explosive night of wrestling in August 2026.

Chicago
Now Arena, Hoffman Estates
Labor Day
Weekend Tradition
~15k
Venue Capacity
AEW PPV
Major Summer Event

AEW All Out — Full Event History

YearLocationNotable MatchWinner
2019Hoffman Estates, ILAEW debut PPV — Lucha Bros vs. SCULucha Bros
2020Jacksonville (bubble)Kenny Omega vs. Hangman PageKenny Omega
2021Hoffman Estates, ILCM Punk returns to wrestlingCM Punk debut
2022Hoffman Estates, ILCM Punk vs. Jon Moxley (AEW Title)CM Punk
2023Hoffman Estates, ILMJF vs. Adam Cole (ladder match)MJF
2024Hoffman Estates, ILSwerve Strickland title defenceSwerve
2025Hoffman Estates, ILBuilding toward 2026TBD
2026Chicago / Now ArenaTBD — Major ChampionshipsTBD

2026 Card Preview — What to Expect

AEW All Out traditionally features the AEW World Championship as the main event, alongside the AEW Women's World Championship, the TBS Championship, and multiple tag team title bouts. The 2026 edition will be no different — expect a stacked card built over the summer weeks of Dynamite and Collision.

AEW typically books 8-10 matches for All Out, making it one of the most complete cards on the annual calendar. Grudge matches built over the summer, championship unification bouts, and unexpected surprise returns are all hallmarks of the All Out format.

Given AEW's summer 2026 storyline trajectory, the main event picture will likely be shaped by the aftermath of Double or Nothing and the summer television feuds on Dynamite and Collision. All Out has historically been the event where AEW pulls its biggest creative trigger of the summer.

Chicago and AEW — A Unique Bond

The Chicago wrestling market has always been one of the most vocal and passionate in North America. The Now Arena in Hoffman Estates — AEW's spiritual home for All Out — consistently produces the loudest, most engaged crowds of any AEW event.

Chicago's significance to AEW became legendary in August 2021 when CM Punk returned to professional wrestling for the first time in seven years at All Out. The emotion in the building that night was unlike anything seen in wrestling in years — a reminder that AEW All Out in Chicago is genuinely special.

The fanbase that fills the Now Arena for All Out is among the most knowledgeable in wrestling, creating an atmosphere where every near-fall lands and every surprise gets the reaction it deserves. It's the single best PPV atmosphere AEW produces year-on-year.

Championship Matches Expected at All Out 2026

AEW World Championship
The main event slot — All Out's AEW World Title match is the marquee attraction. The champion heading into summer 2026 will have a major programme to close out.
AEW Women's World Championship
AEW's women's division headlines All Out annually — expect a major rivalry to close out the women's title match with a stipulation.
Tag Team Championships
AEW's tag division is arguably the deepest in wrestling — All Out's tag title matches are reliably among the best matches of the night.
TNT / TBS Championship
The workhorse titles — All Out 2026 will feature these midcard championships in a strong position on the undercard or co-main event.

Surprise Returns — All Out's Greatest Moments

AEW All Out has become the single biggest night for surprise returns in wrestling outside of WrestleMania. The 2021 return of CM Punk set the standard — a moment that generated mainstream news coverage and broke social media records for a wrestling event at the time.

In subsequent years, All Out has featured surprise appearances, dream match announcements, and free agent signings that were kept completely secret until the moment of reveal. Chicago crowds reward these moments with some of the most electric reactions in the sport.

For 2026, speculation will naturally center on any high-profile free agents in the market, potential crossover appearances, and unexpected championship challengers. All Out is where AEW proves it can still surprise the wrestling world.

How All Out Fits Into AEW's 2026 Calendar

AEW All Out sits between Double or Nothing (May) and WrestleDream (October) on the AEW PPV calendar — making it the centrepiece of AEW's summer storytelling. The momentum built at All Out typically carries into the autumn stretch of AEW's year.

With AEW Dynasty (April) and Double or Nothing setting up major storylines, All Out is where those stories reach their summer climax. Championship changes at All Out have consistently set the agenda for the rest of AEW's year.

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