The City of Kamloops will host a tournament-long series of community celebrations and public watch parties during the FIFA World Cup 2026, backed by $90,000 in provincial funding.

The funding comes through British Columbia’s 2026 Community Event Support Fund, part of a broader $1.7-million investment supporting 32 communities across the province as Canada prepares to co-host the global tournament.

City officials say the funding will allow Kamloops to broadcast every World Cup match live at Riverside Park from June 11 through the final on July 19.

“Thanks to the funding from the provincial government, we’re going to be able to show all of the FIFA World Cup games at Riverside Park … with a big screen set up and sound,” said Business Operations and Events Supervisor Andrew Smeaton. “Our community can come down and watch all the games as they happen live.”

Smeaton described the atmosphere as similar to the city’s popular Music in the Park series, with residents encouraged to bring lawn chairs, gather with family and friends, and enjoy the matches in a relaxed outdoor setting.

“We’re anticipating a similar vibe,” he said. “People can come set up chairs, hang out with family, bring a soccer ball down and kick it around and enjoy.”

Deputy Mayor Margot Middleton said the funding will help showcase Kamloops as a destination for sport and community events.

“Kamloops has a long history as Canada’s Tournament Capital, and this provincial support allows us to showcase our vibrant, accessible and diverse community,” Middleton said.

While all matches will be shown, Smeaton said games featuring Canada — along with the tournament final — will be treated as marquee events.

“Those will be bigger event days,” he said. “They’re going to be events that our community wants to be at.”

Additional programming, including live entertainment, food vendors and family-friendly activities, is expected, with more details to be released in the coming weeks.

The city is also working to coordinate scheduling with existing summer programming. Smeaton said only six days of overlap are scheduld between World Cup matches and Music in the Park, and organizers are exploring minor schedule adjustments to accommodate both.

To ensure safety, Smeaton said the city plans to increase security presence during watch parties, particularly as Riverside Park continues to allow responsible alcohol consumption during designated hours.

“We’ll have increased security levels in the park … to make sure everyone is able to enjoy the park and have fun in a responsible way,” he said.

B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Anne Kang, said the funding ensures communities beyond host cities can share in the World Cup experience, while Premier David Eby called the tournament a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to unite communities.

Smeaton emphasized the provincial contribution is key to making the local events possible.

“Without their funding of $90,000, we wouldn’t be able to make this amazing community event happen,” he said.

The city is partnering with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Tourism Kamloops, the Kamloops Sports Council, the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association and Kamloops United Football Club to deliver the events.

More details, including a full event schedule, are expected to be released later this spring.

Click here for a full list of what all communities receiving funding are being given.