Newcastle United latest news: St James’ Park is one of the stadiums in consideration to host the 2026 Magic Weekend.
Newcastle United’s St James’ Park faces competition from Everton’s new stadium to host 2026’s Super League Magic Weekend.
St James’ Park has been a regular host venue of the yearly event which brings in an estimated £10m to the city. However, Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium has emerged as a rival bidder to stage the event.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium recently held the second match of a three-match Rugby League Ashes series between England and Australia as they look to expand the events staged at the new stadium.
The Magic Weekend, one that sees every Super League side compete at one venue over two days of action, could be the next major event to move to the 52,769 capacity venue.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the Magic Weekend has been held in Liverpool, with Anfield staging the 2019 edition of the event. St James’ Park had staged the four previous Magic Weekends before its one year venture to the north west and have also staged four of the last five events, with Leeds United’s Elland Road hosting in 2024.
Whilst the event is a big hit with supporters, not just in the north east but across the Super League, there had been doubts over its place in the Super League calendar. An expansion to a 14-team Super League, up from 12 last year, put a strain on the fixture list and the staging of a Magic Weekend event had been placed into doubt – although fears over its cancellation have recently been allayed with broadcaster Sky Sports among the supporters of keeping the annual event.
Magic Weekend host venue competition
Whilst St James’ Park and the Hill Dickinson Stadium are considered among the leading venues to host the 2026 Magic Weekend, Love Rugby League have reported that Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, the host of the very first Magic Weekend back in 2007, is also under consideration for the event which has been given the ‘green light’ to proceed. Nottingham Forest’s City Ground has also emerged as a possibility.
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The 2025 Magic Weekend was hosted on May Bank Holiday weekend this year. Newcastle United, on that weekend, played away at Brighton.
If that weekend was to be used again this season, however, then St James’ Park would not be a viable destination as the Magpies are scheduled to play, coincidentally, Brighton at home. Eddie Howe’s side also host West Ham on the weekend of May 17 in their final home game of the season before ending their campaign at Craven Cottage against Fulham on Sunday 24 May.
No date for the 2026 Magic Weekend has been announced, however, with football stadiums among the favourites to host the event, the football fixture list will have to be taken into account before any final decision is made on where and when to host the event.
The Magic Weekend has previously taken place at the end of May following the conclusion of the football season, in July during the summer break and in September during its time being staged in Newcastle.