AEW Forbidden Door 2026: match card, start time and how to watch
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 goes live tonight, June 28, at 8 p.m. ET from the SAP Center in San Jose, California, on HBO Max PPV. The fifth annual cross-promotional supershow unites AEW, NJPW, CMLL and STARDOM for five title bouts, Owen Hart Cup finals, and a steel cage match that could hand Mark Briscoe an AEW World Championship shot.
Key Takeaways
- Forbidden Door 2026 airs Sunday, June 28, with the Zero Hour pre-show at 7 p.m. ET and the main card at 8 p.m. ET from San Jose.
- The card features five championship matches plus men's and women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals, with winners earning world title shots at All In: London on August 30.
- A 12-man steel cage match pits MJF's Don Callis Family squad against Mark Briscoe's team, with Briscoe earning an AEW World Title match if his side wins.
- Cross-promotional highlights include Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Shota Umino vs. PAC for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, and Thekla vs. Starlight Kid.
- Watch on HBO Max PPV, with the Zero Hour pre-show also streaming on YouTube; Bleacher Report lists Prime Video, DAZN, Fubo and PPV.com as additional options.
When does AEW Forbidden Door 2026 start?
According to AEW's official preview, the main pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) on HBO Max PPV. Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports both list the Zero Hour pre-show at 7 p.m. ET, with Yahoo noting that portion streams on YouTube.
The event marks the fifth annual Forbidden Door and the first officially co-promoted by all four partner companies: AEW, NJPW, CMLL and STARDOM. After last year's London debut, the show returns to North America at the SAP Center.
What matches are on the Forbidden Door 2026 card?
AEW lists 11 bouts across the Buy-In and main show. The Zero Hour opens with Skye Blue vs. Maika in a TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest qualifying match, followed by Divine Dominion defending the AEW Women's World Tag Team Championship against Thunder Rosa and Olympia.
Five championships are on the line during the PPV. Thekla puts the AEW Women's World Championship up against Starlight Kid, Jon Moxley faces ROH World Champion Bandido for the AEW Continental Championship, and Shota Umino defends the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against PAC. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage also defend the AEW World Tag Team Championship against The Dogs (David Finlay and Clark Connors).
Non-title action includes a three-way tag bout pitting El Sky Team against the Young Bucks and Unbound Co., plus Kenny Omega meeting NJPW's Zack Sabre Jr. in a marquee inter-promotional singles match.
Why do the Owen Hart Cup finals matter at Forbidden Door?
For the first time, Forbidden Door hosts both Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals. Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland collide in the men's final after beating Samoa Joe, Mark Davis, Bandido and Brody King along the way. Mercedes Moné faces rising star Maya World in the women's final.
Each winner earns a world championship match at AEW All In: London on August 30 at Wembley Stadium. Yahoo Sports projects the men's final could close the show, given the stakes riding on an AEW World Title opportunity.
How can you watch AEW Forbidden Door 2026?
AEW directs fans to HBO Max PPV for the main event. Bleacher Report adds Prime Video, DAZN, Fubo and PPV.com as viewing platforms. The Zero Hour pre-show is available on YouTube at 7 p.m. ET per Yahoo Sports.
For more live entertainment previews, browse our Celebrity Breaking News coverage. Full match backgrounds and storyline details are available in AEW's official Forbidden Door preview.
What is the biggest non-title match on the card?
The 12-man steel cage match carries major implications for the AEW World Championship picture even though the belt is not defended. MJF recruited Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada and Andrade El Ídolo to Team DCMJF after paying Don Callis for help.
Mark Briscoe leads Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita and Darby Allin on the opposing side. If Team Briscoe wins, Briscoe receives a guaranteed AEW World Title match against MJF, setting the table for All In: London.