TKO - the company in control of the IMG agency, and the UFC and WWE combat sports promotions - secured a notable uptick in revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
Total income during the three months up to the end of March came to almost $1.6 billion, up from $1.27 billion the prior year, an increase of 26%.
Of this revenue, it was divided between the Ultimate Fighting Championship ($401.2 million), World Wrestling Entertainment ($475.7 million), and IMG ($655.4 million).
All three of these properties saw their revenues rise during the three-month period.
Total net income at TKO - which was created in 2023, carved out of the Endeavor empire - was $249.8 million, up from $165.5 million.
TKO's adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization), meanwhile, came to $549.8 million in Q1, up from $417.4 million for the prior year.
UFC's revenue increase was driven predominantly by a rise of over $50 million in media rights, production, and content, which brought in $275.3 million over the three months. This was mainly due to a new distribution deal with Paramount that got underway in January.
WWE, meanwhile, saw substantial increases in both media rights and live events income in Q1 - TKO has attributed the latter rise to "an increase in financial incentive package revenues."
The wrestling promotion's live events and hospitality segment provided Q1 income of $123.5 million, up from $76.3 million for the equivalent period in 2025.
Finally, IMG's income rose during Q1, which was caused primarily by a rise from $288.5 million to $467.7 million in its live events and hospitality operations - mostly down to sales of packages at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which took place in northern Italy across February.
The On Location brand, which is also part of TKO, holds official hospitality provision rights with the International Olympic Committee through the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO, commented on the results: "TKO’s first quarter results reflect the strength and durability of our premium IP. Our media rights portfolio is firmly in place, our financial incentive packages continue to scale, and demand for our premium live events and experiences is healthy."
