The FIFA Fan Festival™ NYNJ that was set to celebrate World Cup over several weeks at Liberty State Park in Jersey City has been canceled. Instead, Governor Mikie Sherrill has launched a new $5 million initiative to support communities across the state in creating fan experiences throughout the World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey (NYNJ) Host Committee first announced the festival at its “One Year To Go” celebration at Liberty State Park last June. The festival was expected to host tens of thousands of fans during the 39-day tournament from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring real-time broadcasts, live entertainment, interactive fan activations, and sponsorship integrations. The NYNJ Host Committee confirmed the cancellation to Commerce and noted the Committee is excited about the opportunity to engage even more communities more directly. The new initiative is being led by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) in partnership with the NYNJ Host Committee.
The $5 million initiative will support two distinct categories of World Cup programming statewide:
First, it will fund major fan zone experiences strategically distributed throughout New Jersey, creating large-scale public viewing destinations for fans across the state.
Second, it will provide targeted support for small and mid-sized community watch parties, festivals, and street fairs, ensuring that celebrations are accessible and locally rooted in communities of all sizes.
As part of this initiative, the NJEDA will prioritize supporting events that are “high-impact, beneficial to small businesses, and reflective of the cultures that will be represented” by competing World Cup nations.
“New Jersey is the beating heart of the 2026 World Cup, and this initiative makes sure that every New Jerseyan — no matter where they live — can be part of this once-in-a-generation moment,” said Governor Sherrill in a statement. “From fan zones to neighborhood watch parties to street fairs, we are investing in the communities and small businesses that make New Jersey extraordinary. The World Cup is coming to our state — and we are going to make sure it belongs to New Jerseyans first.”