Big Slick’s 2026 weekend won’t include this popular event. Here’s why

The 17th annual Big Slick Celebrity weekend is back for 2026, with a change to the schedule.

The fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Kansas City will take place May 29 and 30, 2026. But VIPs will not run the bases for Royals fans for a Celebrity Classic softball game at Kauffman Stadium.

This was canceled because the Royals are playing out of town in Texas the weekend after Memorial Day. Big Slick organizers say the unusual MLB schedule is due to the World Cup in Kansas City.

Instead of the softball game, Big Slick will host “a VIP-ticketed, limited engagement fundraiser” on Friday night. No other details about the new event were available Wednesday.

The cast of celebrities in the Big Slick Party and Show celebrate after revealing the record high amount raised for Children’s Mercy Hospital on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

The Big Slick Party and Show is still scheduled for Saturday night. Traditionally, this is a raucous night at T-Mobile Center with musical performances, skits, stand-up comedy and an auction for big-ticket items.

Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner, Eric Stonestreet and Heidi Gardner will return to host in 2026.

Ticket prices and additional celebrity guests will be announced when tickets go on sale — in 2025, this happened in February.

Starting as a celebrity poker tournament in 2010, the event has raised more than $30 million for the children’s hospital. In 2025, special guests included Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, “Today Show” cohost Al Roker and “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kenan Thompson.