By The Keystone Newspaper A week of school spirit, sporting events, and alumni reunions
By Winson Lin
KU will welcome students, alumni, and faculty back for Homecoming 2026 on Monday, Oct. 19, and festivities will run through Sunday, Oct. 25.
Alumni specific Homecoming activities will take place from Oct. 23-24.
The week-long celebration will start on Monday with the Spirit Court Elections opening up on Engage. The annual RHA banner competition will be on display in the MSU Atrium, as well.
Also on Monday, KUAB will host their “Make & Take a KU Pillow” event in MSU 233 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
From Oct. 20-21, the 1866 Giving Challenge will be taking place. Students can also stop by MSU 218 and enjoy the Free Daps: Improve Comedy Hip Hop Show on Wednesday evening.
Spirit Stations will be set up on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 11 to 12 p.m. with freebies for students to get into the Homecoming spirit. These stations will be located in the MSU and Old Main lobbies, Rohrbach lawn and Stratton 109. Then, the Spirit Dinner, located in South Dining Hall, will take place at 4 p.m.
The Spirit Rally at the Andre Reed Stadium will take place later Thursday night, at 8 p.m.
On Friday, Oct. 23, KU students and alumni can enjoy a special screening of The Breakfast Club at the Strand Theatre on Main. The show starts at 6 p.m for $10 a person. At 6:30 p.m., the Women’s Volleyball team will go up against Lock Haven at the Brandywine Heights High School. Back on campus, students and guests can gather in South Dining Hall for Bears at Night: S’mores Before the Game at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 will be a big day for sports and alumni reunion celebrations, as The Pour, Roar & Score pregame breakfast will take place from 9-11 a.m. in South Dining Hall, alongside the KU Foundation Cub Tent opening on the DMZ.
At noon on Saturday, the Golden Bears football team will take on West Chester at Andre Reed Stadium.
Right after the game wraps up, alumni and guests can head back to South Dining Hall for the 5th Quarter Party from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for food, music, and other post-game celebrations.
Sporting events will continue across campus on Oct. 24 as the Women’s Soccer team plays Mansfield at 3 p.m at Keystone Field. The Women’s Volleyball will follow them up, taking on Shippensburg at 6 p.m. at Brandywine Heights High School.
The week-long celebration will come to a close on Sunday, Oct. 25 with the Homecoming Weekend Community Clean Up, bringing students, alumni and faculty together to give back to the campus and local Kutztown community.
For more details on additional events and activities along with registration, visit Homecoming Events.