In a move that’s sure to raise eyebrows and bright lights, LIV Golf will descend on New Orleans in summer 2026, setting up shop at Bayou Oaks in City Park; just as tourism typically slumps. Louisiana is fronting at least $7.2 million to make it happen, $5 million to LIV, plus $2.2 million to spruce up the course.
Governor Jeff Landry framed the announcement as poetic justice; launching the event on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a powerful reminder of the city’s resilience. The tour’s desert-wild vibe, with no “quiet” signs, fits right in with NOLA’s electric energy.
LIV’s presence promises to wake up the city and its summer doldrums. Organizers estimate a $40 million economic injection, all while reminding the world that New Orleans isn’t just for Mardi Gras and jazz; it’s now party-central for golf’s most controversial league.
LIV’s Anthem of Entertainment
Unlike the hushed, prim PGA events, LIV Golf is known for spectacle. At the City Park press conference, fireworks popped, music thumped, and Bubba Watson reveled in the South’s party vibe. He’s a local guy–born three hours away in Pensacola, and lit up at the idea of playing in front of a homey crowd again. “I’m from the Gulf Coast … this is part of my home,” Watson said.
Yes, June in New Orleans is hot. Yes, it’s hurricane season. But LIV’s fearless fashion fits right into the Southern summer. Watson shrugged about the heat, saying, “I’ve grown up in the South; I know about heat. We just prepare for it.”
Louisiana isn’t just bringing the bacon; they’ve bankrolled it. Past PGA events like the Zurich Classic have gotten state subsidies in the hundreds of thousands. Now they’re going all in. It’s bold, it’s flashy, and it’s the kind of headline-making splash the tour thrives on.
A Slam Dunk for Tourism, or a Lightning Rod for Controversy?
Let’s call it like it is: LIV Golf is still controversial. It’s Saudi-backed, divisive, and not always warmly greeted. But New Orleans is doing the math, and betting the payout outweighs the PR hit.
At least $40 million is expected to flood the local economy. Landry sees it as an investment in City Park’s 170‑year‑old legacy, a landmark that needs revitalization.
And can one city handle both a PGA staple and a LIV event? Landry thinks so. He feels they’re not competing—they’re complementing, drawing in different crowds, broadening options. “This is an opportunity to bring a different group of people on another course.”
LIV’s Most Global Year Yet
For perspective, the New Orleans event isn’t an isolated splash—it’s part of a massive global expansion. LIV’s 2026 schedule is its most far-reaching ever, spanning five continents; from Australia and Singapore to South Africa, Mexico, the UK, and now the U.S.
In the U.S., New Orleans joins other confirmed stops including Chicago, Indianapolis, Michigan, and likely one near DC or Virginia just before the PGA Championship. Miami and Dallas? Not in the mix this year.
Global growth isn’t just expansion; it’s a statement: LIV intends to be everywhere the game matters. And New Orleans? That’s one more bold pin on the map.
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