Way back in 2017, FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football) announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be held in North America, and that a slew of these matches would be scheduled from mid-June to late July in the New York City metro region. Fútbal, fußball, futebol, and football (but not “football”) fans from across The Big Apple sounded their vuvuzelas. The tri-state tourism industry let loose with a loud “huzzah!” The Taxi & Limousine Commission choreographed a synchronized dance routine (doubling down on their moves after Congestion Pricing passed).
The Manhattan menswear community, however, has been a bit more sanguine. While the July New York market may not carry quite the clout that it once did, it is still an important stop in the international pub crawl that is our industry. All this excitement is driving hotel rates right out of bounds (and we can only imagine what it will do for Uber fares). Prices have surged as much as 300% in some cities, according to The Athletic: New York/New Jersey rates are up around 228%, according to the article, and hotels near the MetLife Stadium are charging more than $1500 for rooms that were around $250 to $300 just a few weeks before the event. To be fair, the finals are scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, so by Monday, rates should begin to return to their normal in-season rates.
Since the team at MR has a vested interest in wanting as many people as possible to attend a certain essential industry Awards dinner in late July, we’ve been talking to the team at the United Men’s Fashion Association about hotel rates that they’ve secured for visiting retailers.
United Menswear Fashion Association Hotel Partners
Photo by Jonathan Roger
“Our priority is to ensure that the New York men’s market remains accessible, competitive, and viable for both showrooms and the buyers who travel here to do business,” says UMFA President Joshua Jacobs of J Squared Group. We recognize that the upcoming FIFA final has driven a sharp increase in hotel rates across the city, creating added challenges at an important time for the market. We are actively working with partners to identify solutions and secure more reasonable accommodations, so that attending the market remains practical, efficient, and fully supported.”
Leary Forteau, of the Leary Forteau Agency, and Vice President of the UMFA, adds, “Given the level of activity across the city this summer, including FIFA, hotel demand is extremely high, and pricing has increased across the board. With that in mind, the rates we have secured with our preferred partners represent the strongest positioning currently available. We are continuing to add hotels, and the list will be updated as additional partners are confirmed.”
The UMFA committee is curating hotels across five tiers to ensure a range of options based on both budgets and locations. Check the UMFA’s website here for further details, and consult the UMFA map here for the latest listing of participating showrooms and trade shows.
New York’s Best Menswear Show Moves
The entrance to the Millennium Hilton.
Don Wechsler’s New York’s Best Menswear Show is moving across town to the New York Millennium Hilton Hotel at One U.N. Plaza (East 44th Street, between First and Second Avenues). The Show has secured a base hotel rate of $299 plus a $38 hospitality fee from July 18 to 22, 2026.
“The destination fee comes with several great benefits,” says Wechsler, “including a $38 daily credit that can be used at any of our food and beverage outlets, a NYC City Bike Pass, and complimentary high-speed internet throughout the property. This fee really adds value, giving our guests flexibility and convenience while enhancing their overall experience at the hotel.”
Rates for the NYBMS/Millennium can be booked here.
The goals may be happening across the river, but the real action for menswear stays on the streets of Manhattan. Book early, stay nimble—and we’ll see you in July.