A Night at Big Slick 2026: KC Shows Up for Its Kids

There are nights that remind you exactly why you love your city, and Saturday was one of them for me. Big Slick weekend 2026 is officially in the books, and I am still floating a little. If you have never been, picture the whole of Kansas City packing into the T-Mobile Center for one big, loud, ridiculous, deeply good-hearted night, all of it for the kids at Children’s Mercy. That is Big Slick. And year 17 did not disappoint.

I shared a peek of the night over on Instagram, but honestly it deserved more than a swipe-through. So grab your coffee. I am going to tell you the whole thing.

So what is Big Slick, exactly?

Big Slick is the celebrity charity weekend founded by six Kansas City natives who happen to be very famous and very funny. Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner, and Heidi Gardner come home every year, round up a few of their famous friends, and turn the whole thing into a benefit for pediatric cancer research and treatment at Children’s Mercy. There is a softball game, a bowling night, a party and show, and a whole lot of heart.

What gets me every single year is that these are people who could host a glitzy fundraiser anywhere in the world, and they choose to come back to KC. They clearly love it here. You can feel it in the room.

The part where I completely fangirled

I will be honest, I went in telling myself I would be cool and collected, and then I got to meet a few of them in person and that plan went right out the window.

I spent a good while chatting it up with Jordan Claire Robbins, who could not have been lovelier. I went home and immediately watched her new film Dead Man’s Wire on Netflix, which felt very full circle. And then there was Anthony Hill, who single-handedly talked me into getting back into Grey’s Anatomy. We decided together that he is basically the real life Joey Tribbiani, and I stand by it. A special thank you to Justin Gardner for keeping our little crew organized, because someone had to.

The number that actually matters

For all the celebrity sparkle, the reason everyone is really there lit up the screen at the end of the night. This year’s Big Slick raised more than 4.2 million dollars for Children’s Mercy. Seeing that total go up, with the whole arena on its feet, got me a little teary.

And here is the staggering part. Since 2010, Big Slick has raised over 30 million dollars for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Thirty million. That is not a celebrity doing a photo op. That is Kansas City showing up for its kids, year after year after year, and it works because this whole town decides to show up together.

Why this one stays with me

I think what I love most about Big Slick is that it is the best of what Kansas City is. Famous or not, everyone in that room was there for the same reason, and it was not the open bar. It was the kids. It reminded me that the glamorous nights are even better when they actually mean something.

If you have never gone, put it on your list for next year. Tickets support Children’s Mercy, you will laugh until your face hurts, and you might just end up debating which Friends character a Grey’s Anatomy actor most resembles. I cannot recommend it enough.

I am already counting down to next year. Which photo from the night is your favorite? Drop it in the comments, I love reliving it with you.

So glad you are here.
Pam