As venues gear up for 2026 events, CISA rolls out key resources

With millions of people expected at parades, concerts, and stadiums this summer—and as the United States prepares to welcome an estimated 5 to 7 million international visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—federal officials are stepping up efforts to help venues plan for and mitigate bombing threats.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said its Office for Bombing Prevention is expanding no-cost training and tools for law enforcement, first responders, private security, business leaders, and community groups ahead of a packed calendar of mass gatherings tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary and other large-scale events. The push underscores a months-long, whole-of-community planning effort involving public- and private-sector partners to deliver the safe, seamless fan experience organizers promise.

OBP’s catalog spans introductory and advanced offerings and is available in person, via live virtual instruction, and through self-paced online modules. Among the highlighted courses:
– Bomb Threat Management Workshop, which guides organizations through building and executing bomb threat plans
– Suspicious Behaviors and Items, focused on recognizing and reporting concerning activity and unattended objects
– IED Awareness and Safety Procedures, covering identification, effects, and safe responses
– Homemade Explosives and Precursor Chemicals Awareness, designed to help retail staff and security spot suspicious purchases or patterns
– Vehicle-Borne IED Detection Workshop, emphasizing indicators of vehicle-borne threats in crowded settings

Beyond training, CISA is directing event planners and venue operators to practical planning aids. Those include Bomb Threat Guidance for tailoring site-specific protocols; materials to identify suspicious unmanned aircraft; a quick-reference card for potential vehicle-borne threats; and a Mass Gathering Security Planning Tool that helps organizers build risk-informed plans for complex events.

The agency said it is working with local businesses and community leaders, federal entities, and international partners to strengthen preparedness and response across critical infrastructure and community venues. It urged organizers to make use of the free resources now—arguing that early planning, targeted training, and sustained awareness can markedly reduce risk when crowds swell.

Questions and requests for tailored support can be sent to the Office for Bombing Prevention at [email protected]. Additional information is available through CISA’s regional offices and its “Staying Secure at Large-Scale Events” resource hub.

As part of its broader public-awareness message, the agency reiterated: “If You See Something, Say Something.”