The Bears are gearing up for their 2026 summer tour in the United Kingdom, which will feature stops in Manchester, Loughborough and Liverpool for Flag Football Clinics, girls flag football championships and a fan activation at the iconic Royal Albert Dock.
The tour will mark the fifth consecutive summer that the Bears have traveled across the pond to continue making American football more accessible, inclusive and engaging for young people.
"The UK continues to represent a tremendous opportunity for the Bears to deepen our connection with our fans and communities while helping grow the game of football on a global scale," said Bears vice president of fan development and brand marketing Sarah Smith. "Whether it's providing a memorable brand experience or supporting the growth of flag football, we are committed to establishing the Bears as a leading international sports and lifestyle brand for years to come."
Kicking off the tour in Manchester June 15, the Bears will be joined by Hall of Fame receiver/return specialist Devin Hester as well as current safety Elijah Hicks, both of whom will help run Chicago Bears Flag Football Clinics. Hicks will also represent the Bears at the NFL UK Flag Championships.
The Bears will host their own Girls Flag Championships June 19 in Loughborough, where top teams from the club's Manchester, London and Midlands leagues will compete in a tournament. Bears legend Charles "Peanut" Tillman and current cornerback/special teams ace Josh Blackwell, along with former captain of the Great Britain women's national American football team and former NFL assistant coach Phoebe Schecter, will be in attendance supporting the teams.
The Bears' UK girls flag football program is in its fourth year and now stretches across three regions with 43 teams participating. Since its inception in 2023, the league has impacted more than 10,000 young people across 11 regions, highlighting the organization's long-term commitment to growing the game internationally through the NFL's Global Markets Program.
"We are committed to the continued growth of flag football internationally, and we are thrilled with the success, growth and reach of our clinics and girls flag football leagues," said Bears director of football development Gustavo Silva. "Since 2022, we have set out to introduce the game of flag football to kids throughout the UK and are dedicated to creating access for everyone to be able to enjoy to play this great game that we love."
Blackwell, Tillman and Staley Da Bear will also make their way to Liverpool for a few special activities. Fans can visit the Royal Albert Dock on Sunday, June 21 from 10-6 p.m. for an exclusive meet and greet, photo opportunities and giveaways. Exact timing of appearances will be shared soon.
To round out the tour, the Bears will host Flag Football Clinics in Liverpool June 22 and 23 with the help of Tillman and Blackwell.
Be sure to follow the Bears' international channels, @ukchicagobears on Instagram and the team's international hub on ChicagoBears.com for the latest content during and after the tour.
