Nina Taylor 
Bass fishing has never had a moment quite like this. On October 28, the biggest gathering of professional anglers in the sport’s history will come together in Nashville, Tennessee, for five days of elite competition, fan festivities, and an outdoor expo that is unlike anything the sport has seen before. If you love fishing, hunting, or outdoor sports, this is the event that demands your attention this fall.
Event Overview: Dates, Venues and Format
The World Bass Championship Expo 2026 runs from October 28 through November 1, 2026, across two locations in the Nashville area.
| Detail | Information |
| Event Name | The Champions — Official Expo of The Champions |
| Tournament Dates | October 28 to November 1, 2026 |
| Tournament Venue | Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville, Tennessee |
| Expo Venue | Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville |
| Expo Size | 70,000 square feet |
| Organizer | World Bass Enterprises |
| Total Prize Purse | $3.25 million |
| Winner’s Prize | $1.25 million |
| Tournament Field | Top 50 professional anglers |
The competition runs for three days on the water, with opening ceremonies and media day taking place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort earlier in the week. The Official Expo of The Champions also takes place at the Opryland Resort, giving fans a base of activity throughout the full five days.
What Makes This Event Historic
World Bass Enterprises, founded and led by CEO Brian Bird, created The Champions to solve a problem that has frustrated bass fishing fans for years. Since Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour was established in 2019, the sport’s two biggest professional circuits have never competed against each other. The Champions changes that.
The tournament brings together the top 25 anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and the top 25 from Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. They will compete side by side on Old Hickory Lake under neutral rules, with the winner claiming the Champion’s Cup and a $1.25 million prize. That top payout is the largest single prize ever awarded to a bass fishing tournament winner. Second place earns $500,000, and third place receives $300,000.
Bird invested approximately $12 million of his own money to make the event happen. Each competing angler receives complimentary accommodations and a pre-loaded $3,000 debit card. The goal is clear: treat professional bass fishing as the elite sport it is and give it the platform it deserves.
Brandon Palaniuk, a two-time Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, captured the mood of the bass fishing community when the event was announced. He said the entire community is energized to finally see who is the best in the world, with a prize that reflects the elite nature of the competition.
The Official Expo: 70,000 Square Feet of Outdoor Brands
The Official Expo of The Champions is one of the largest outdoor sports expos Nashville has ever hosted. It occupies 70,000 square feet of floor space at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and features brands from across fishing, hunting, and the broader outdoor sports industry.
This is not just a backdrop to the tournament. The expo is a full-scale consumer event designed to put the best products in outdoor sports directly in the hands of fans. Visitors can walk the floor, speak with brand representatives, test equipment, and access exclusive show deals during the event window.
The expo runs alongside the tournament week, meaning fans can split their time between watching elite anglers compete on Old Hickory Lake and exploring the latest gear, boats, electronics, and apparel on the show floor at the resort.
Expected Exhibitor Categories
The expo draws brands from across the full outdoor sports spectrum. Based on the confirmed scope of the event, visitors can expect exhibitors across the following categories:
- Fishing tackle, rods, reels, and terminal gear
- Fishing boats, motors, and marine electronics
- Fishing electronics and sonar technology
- Hunting equipment and accessories
- Outdoor apparel and footwear
- Camping, adventure, and lifestyle gear
- Conservation and wildlife organizations
The expo format mirrors the approach that major bass fishing events have used successfully at venues like the Gaylord Opryland before. The National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual convention and sport show, for example, used the same venue to bring together more than 350 exhibitors from the outdoor industry, demonstrating that the Opryland Resort can handle large-scale outdoor brand events with ease.
Key Highlights Beyond the Expo Floor
Opening Ceremonies and Media Day
The event begins with a formal opening ceremony and media day hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. These events set the stage for the tournament week, giving media, sponsors, and invited guests a first look at the field and the event’s scope before competition begins.
Live Music Performance
World Bass Enterprises has confirmed a headline musical performance as part of the event’s ancillary programming. Nashville is the natural home for live music at a sporting event, and the performance is expected to draw fans who are not solely there for the fishing. The specific artist has not yet been announced publicly, but the event’s stated ambition to build something comparable to a sporting Super Bowl suggests the entertainment will match the scale of the fishing.
Pro-Am Competition at Percy Priest Lake
On the final day, Sunday, November 1, the action moves to Percy Priest Lake for a special pro-am competition. The top 15 anglers from The Champions tournament will team up with celebrities and legendary figures from the fishing world for a day of competitive but accessible fishing. This event aims to bridge the gap between elite competitors and the broader fan community, giving fans a chance to see their favorite anglers in a more relaxed and interactive setting.
Fan Festival at Sanders Ferry Park
Throughout the competition days, a fan festival runs at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, giving spectators a place to gather, watch live tournament updates, and soak up the atmosphere. The park setting provides direct access to the lake and the weigh-in drama, making it the natural gathering point for fans who want to be as close to the action as possible.
Event Schedule at a Glance
| Date | Activity | Venue |
| October 28 | Media Day and Opening Ceremonies | Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville |
| October 28 – November 1 | Official Expo of The Champions | Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville |
| October 29 – 31 | Three days of tournament competition | Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville |
| October 28 – 31 | Fan Festival | Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville |
| November 1 | Pro-Am Competition | Percy Priest Lake, Nashville |
Why This Expo Stands Apart from Other Fishing Events
Most outdoor expos are standalone events. This event is part of a week-long championship. The championship has already attracted national media attention and generated significant buzz across the fishing world. Therefore, passionate fishing fans actively attend the expo while participating in or watching the tournament.
Additionally, the combination of a record-breaking prize purse, a neutral-ground competition between the sport’s two biggest professional tours, and a world-class venue in Nashville creates a level of excitement that typical outdoor expos simply cannot replicate. Brands that exhibit here are not just showing products. They are associating themselves with a historic moment in professional bass fishing.
Conclusion
The World Bass Championship Expo 2026 runs from October 28 to November 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee, alongside the first-ever world bass fishing championship on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville. The Official Expo of The Champions spans 70,000 square feet of outdoor brand exhibits covering fishing, hunting, and lifestyle gear. The tournament itself brings together the top 50 anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, competing for a record-setting prize pool of $3.25 million, including a $1.25 million winner’s payout. Ancillary events include opening ceremonies, a headline live music performance, a fan festival at Sanders Ferry Park, and a pro-am competition on Percy Priest Lake. For fishing fans, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to be part of a genuine landmark moment in American sport, this is the event of the fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does the World Bass Championship Expo take place?
The expo runs from October 28 to November 1, 2026. It takes place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament itself is held on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Additionally, a final pro-am event is scheduled for November 1 on Percy Priest Lake.The expo runs from October 28 to November 1, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament itself takes place on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with a final pro-am event on Percy Priest Lake on November 1.
Who are the anglers competing in The Champions tournament?
The field includes the top 25 anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. It also features the top 25 competitors from Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. Together, these 50 anglers represent the world’s best professional bass fishermen. For the first time, competitors from both tours will face each other in the same tournament.
What kinds of brands and exhibitors will be at the expo?
The expo features brands across fishing, hunting, and outdoor sports, including tackle, rods, reels, boats, marine electronics, outdoor apparel, footwear, camping gear, and conservation organizations. The Official Expo of The Champions spans 70,000 square feet at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.
How much is the total prize purse for The Champions tournament?
The total prize purse is $3.25 million. The winning angler receives $1.25 million, the largest single prize ever awarded in a bass fishing tournament. Second place earns $500,000, and third place receives $300,000.
Who organizes The Champions and the associated expo?
World Bass Enterprises organizes the event under the leadership of CEO Brian Bird. The organization, which Bird founded in 2026, aims to create and host The Champions as an annual world bass fishing championship. More information is available at worldbassenterprises.com.
