North Carolina A&T State University marks 100 years of homecoming tradition with the centennial Greatest Homecoming on Earth, running October 25 through November 1, 2026, in Greensboro. The week peaks on Saturday, October 31, with a Halloween morning parade, a sold-out game against Elon University and a Gunna-headlined concert.
Key Takeaways
- A&T launched its first homecoming in 1926, making 2026 the 100th edition of the celebration known as GHOE.
- The Aggies host Elon University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at Truist Stadium, and the game is already sold out.
- The centennial parade steps off at 8 a.m. on Halloween morning and is free to watch along Lindsay Street.
- Gunna headlines the Hip-Hop/R&B Concert at First Horizon Coliseum on October 31, with special guest Ella Mai.
- Kirk Franklin closes the week with two Gospel Show performances at the Steven Tanger Center on Sunday, November 1.
- Centennial events will continue beyond homecoming week through the end of the calendar year.
A Tradition That Started in 1926 Reaches Its Centennial
In 1926, a young Greensboro college started its own version of a tradition that was spreading across American campuses. A century later, North Carolina A&T’s homecoming has grown into one of the defining events of HBCU culture, drawing Aggies home from across the country and around the world.
The university began building toward this moment early. A&T announced the dates in December 2025, then launched a 100-day countdown in July with a virtual media event that drew news organizations and hundreds of alumni. Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Tamara Michel Josserand said that to honor 100 years of excellence, the celebration would extend past homecoming week with additional events through the end of the year.
That longer horizon says something about what homecoming means at an HBCU. It is not a single weekend of football. It is a reunion, a family tradition and a public statement about the institution’s place in Black life. A&T arrives at its centennial on a wave of growth, having welcomed a record freshman class that extended its enrollment growth streak to 13 straight years, and for the largest HBCU in the country, a centennial deserves more than seven days.
Halloween Brings the Parade, the Game and the Concert to One Day
Saturday, October 31, carries the heaviest schedule of the week. The Centennial Homecoming Parade begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Lindsay and Morrow streets, moves along Lindsay Street toward campus and ends on Laurel Street. Spectators can line the route at no cost, which makes the parade the most accessible way for Greensboro residents to share in the centennial.
At 1 p.m., the Aggies face Elon University at Truist Stadium. Tickets for the game have already sold out, continuing a pattern of high demand for the homecoming matchup.
The day closes at First Horizon Coliseum, where the Centennial Hip-Hop/R&B Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Atlanta-born rapper Gunna headlines, with British R&B singer Ella Mai as special guest. The lineup also includes Yung Miami of City Girls, British R&B artist KWN and Chicago rapper BabyChiefDoit.
Kirk Franklin Closes the Week With a Sunday Gospel Show
North Carolina A&T ends the centennial week on Sunday, November 1, at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Greensboro. The Aggie Homecoming Gospel Show runs twice, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with Kirk Franklin headlining.
Franklin is joined by special guest Kierra Sheard Kelly, daughter of Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, and the North Carolina A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir. Pairing a hip-hop headliner on Saturday night with a gospel celebration on Sunday reflects the full range of music that shapes the homecoming experience, from the coliseum to the church pew.
Students Get Their Own Centennial Lineup
The week is built for students as much as returning alumni. The schedule includes the Coronation of Mister and Miss A&T, the Homecoming Step Show and the Greek Plots Tailgate, where Divine Nine organizations hold court. Student-focused events include the Sheaversity Campus Yard Activation, a Nightmare on Market Street haunted carnival timed to Halloween, a Centennial Jersey Giveaway, the Lights Out Gym Jam and a homecoming pep rally.
A&T students received priority access to specially priced tickets for the step show and both concerts, with a limit of two tickets per off-campus event so each student can bring a guest.
What 100 Years of GHOE Means for Greensboro
The centennial’s footprint reaches well beyond campus. A&T has said homecoming events are scheduled at scores of locations around Greensboro, and the university has partnered with local hotels to handle the influx of visitors. For restaurants, vendors, hotels and Black-owned businesses across the city, homecoming week is a major economic event, and a centennial edition with a Halloween Saturday is likely to amplify that effect.
The celebration also carries an alumni giving component. The university’s homecoming page features a Homecoming Giving Challenge, a reminder that the reunion is tied to the long-term strength of the institution. For a century, Aggies have come home to celebrate. The 100th edition asks them to invest in the next hundred years as well.
FAQs
When is North Carolina A&T homecoming 2026?
The 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth runs Sunday, October 25, through Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Who does North Carolina A&T play for homecoming 2026?
The Aggies host Elon University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Truist Stadium. The game is sold out.
Who is performing at the A&T homecoming concerts?
Gunna headlines the Hip-Hop/R&B Concert on October 31 with Ella Mai, Yung Miami, KWN and BabyChiefDoit. Kirk Franklin headlines the Gospel Show on November 1 with Kierra Sheard Kelly.
Is the A&T homecoming parade free to attend?
Yes. The parade starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, at Lindsay and Morrow streets, and there is no fee to watch along the route.
