FAMU homecoming 2026 and Hampton University homecoming 2026 both run October 18 to 25, putting two of the country’s best-known HBCU celebrations on the same calendar. Florida A&M brings “There’s No Place Like the Hill” to Tallahassee, while Hampton returns with “Ignite the Blue & White” on Pirates Island in Virginia.
Key Takeaways
- FAMU and Hampton University both hold homecoming October 18 to 25, 2026, with homecoming football games on Saturday, October 24.
- FAMU’s theme, “There’s No Place Like the Hill,” draws from The Wiz, the musical film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
- Gunna, Summer Walker, T.I. and Bellygang Kushington headline the FAMU Homecoming Concert on Thursday, October 22, in the Lawson Center.
- FAMU faces the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at Bragg Memorial Stadium, while Hampton hosts Monmouth at Armstrong Stadium.
- Hampton’s “Pirates Island: The Escape” takes place Friday, October 23, and Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, class of 1982, returns for homecoming.
Two HBCU Homecomings Share One Week in October
HBCU homecoming season peaks in October, and this week shows why. FAMU and Hampton University start their celebrations on the same Sunday and play their homecoming football games on the same Saturday, roughly 700 miles apart. For alumni with ties to both campuses, the overlap forces a choice. For both cities, it means a week of returning graduates, packed hotels, and full restaurants.
The two schools approach homecoming from different positions. FAMU, a SWAC program in Florida’s capital, builds its week around a long list of campus traditions and a headline concert. Hampton, which plays in the CAA, centers its week on Pirates Island, the brand that has defined its homecoming for years.
FAMU Homecoming 2026 Brings The Wiz to The Hill
FAMU homecoming 2026 borrows its theme from The Wiz, the reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, turning the film’s idea of home into a message for returning Rattlers. Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, who chairs the Homecoming Steering Committee, described the week as “a homecoming in every sense of the word.”
The celebration opens Sunday, October 18, with the Coronation and Ball honoring Mister and Miss FAMU at 5:30 p.m. in Gaither Gym. Market Monday takes over the Quad, and the “Taste of a Rattler” SGA Crab Boil follows Tuesday at noon. A pep rally and a 5K run and walk fill the middle of the week.
Friday brings Homecoming Convocation at 10:10 a.m. in the Lawson Center, the FAMFest Homecoming marketplace at noon at the Will Packer Amphitheater, and the NPHC Step Show, where nine organizations compete for the title.
FAMU Homecoming Concert Puts Atlanta Talent in the Lawson Center
The FAMU homecoming concert on Thursday, October 22, leans heavily on Atlanta. Gunna, Summer Walker and T.I. share the bill with rising Florida artist Bellygang Kushington, with the show starting at 7 p.m. in the Lawson Center.
Students had a hand in the lineup. Caitlin Smith, FAMU Student Government Association vice president and chair of the Student Homecoming Steering Committee, said students asked for a concert that matched the scale of FAMU homecoming, and the university delivered.
Saturday on The Hill Runs From Parade to Bragg Memorial Stadium
FAMU’s Saturday starts early. The homecoming parade steps off at 8 a.m. along a campus-wide route, followed by the Strike Zone alumni tailgate on Gibbs Lawn, where the Marching 100 rolls through, and the Rattler Walk.
The Rattlers then host the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Saturday afternoon at Bragg Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1957 and seats 19,633. The week closes Sunday, October 25, with FAMU volleyball against Alcorn State at noon and a Gospel Concert at 4:30 p.m.
Hampton Homecoming 2026 Reignites the Blue and White on Pirates Island
Hampton University homecoming 2026 brings back “Ignite the Blue & White,” the theme the university also used in 2025, under its Pirates Island banner. The signature event, “Pirates Island: The Escape,” takes place Friday, October 23, with doors opening at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, October 24, the Pirates host Monmouth at Armstrong Stadium in the first season under head coach Van Malone. The week also brings back one of Hampton’s most recognized graduates. Ruth E. Carter, the Academy Award-winning costume designer from the class of 1982, returns to the Home by the Sea for homecoming. The university has asked guests to leave personal golf carts at home during homecoming events.
HBCU Homecoming Season Moves Toward Greensboro Next
The FAMU and Hampton weeks are part of a larger HBCU homecoming schedule for 2026 that stretches into November. North Carolina A&T follows immediately, as the university marks the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth from October 25 to November 1.
Back-to-back weeks like these show how central homecoming has become to HBCU culture and to the towns around these campuses. Each celebration combines a reunion, a fundraising moment, and a showcase of student talent, while bringing thousands of visitors to cities like Tallahassee and Hampton for a single week.
FAQs
What Date Is FAMU’s Homecoming in 2026?
FAMU homecoming 2026 runs October 18 to 25 in Tallahassee, Florida. The theme is “There’s No Place Like the Hill.”
Who Does FAMU Play for Homecoming 2026?
FAMU faces the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
What Is the FAMU Homecoming Schedule for 2026?
The week opens with the Coronation and Ball on October 18, followed by Market Monday, the SGA Crab Boil, the Homecoming Concert on October 22, Convocation and the NPHC Step Show on October 23, the parade and football game on October 24, and a Gospel Concert on October 25.
When Is the FAMU Homecoming Parade?
The FAMU homecoming parade begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, along a campus-wide route.
When Is Hampton University Homecoming 2026?
Hampton University homecoming runs October 18 to 25, 2026, under the theme “Ignite the Blue & White.” The Pirates host Monmouth on October 24 at Armstrong Stadium.
What Day Is North Carolina A&T Homecoming 2026?
North Carolina A&T’s homecoming runs October 25 to November 1, 2026, marking the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth.
