HBCU Homecoming Roll Call 2026
The FAMU Marching 100 during halftime at the Florida Classic via Wikipedia
If your group chat has suddenly come back to life, your flight alerts are turned on, PTO is pending, and you've already started thinking about outfits...welcome to Homecoming season.
There's nothing quite like an HBCU homecoming. It's the one time of year when campuses become family reunions, fashion shows, football weekends, networking events, concerts, and cookouts all rolled into one. You may be coming back for the homecoming game, but you’re definitely staying for the people, the food, and the experiences.
The best thing about HBCU Homecomings? No two Homecomings feel exactly alike.
Whether you're heading back to The Mecca, celebrating 100 years of GHOE, making your way to The Highest of Seven Hills, or visiting New Orleans for Xavier's Homecoming, this fall is packed with celebrations worth circling on your calendar.
So before you zip up your suitcase, here's a look at what's happening on campuses across the country and a few pieces we think deserve a spot in your bag.
via thedig.howard.edu
Howard University
October 11–18 | Washington, D.C.
Everyone knows Howard doesn't just welcome alumni home. It brings generations of Bison back to The Mecca.
This year's theme, "Lineage. Legacy. Truth. Service," honors the generations of Bison who have shaped Howard's story while looking toward the future. Yardfest, alumni events, reunions, the parade, and the renewed football rivalry with Morehouse promise to make another unforgettable week at The Mecca.
Pack This: The Howard Lady Bison Luxe Sweatsuit was made for Homecoming weekend. Between the satin-lined hood, rose gold hardware, and elevated fit, it's the kind of set that works just as well for airport travel as it does walking The Yard.
via ncat.edu/homecoming
North Carolina A&T State University
October 25–November 1 | Greensboro, NC
There's a reason they call it The Greatest Homecoming on Earth®.
NCA&T always does it big for Homecoming, but this year is extra special. This year, Aggies, are celebrating the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth®.
This year marks the 100th GHOE, celebrating a century of Aggie tradition. What started in 1926 has grown into one of the largest HBCU homecomings in the country, attracting more than 150,000 alumni, students, and visitors every year. Expect the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, the Golden Delight dancers, concerts, reunions, and enough Aggie pride to fill Greensboro for an entire week
Pack This: If you're making the trip to Greensboro, the new NC A&T Aggie Pride Tracksuit deserves a spot in your suitcase.
Florida A&M University
October 24–31 | Tallahassee, FL
If you've ever experienced a FAMU Homecoming, you already know the energy is different.
This year's celebration includes a highly anticipated concert lineup, football, alumni events, and the traditions that make Tallahassee feel like home every fall. Whether you're back for your first Homecoming or your fifteenth, expect another week filled with Rattler pride.
Pack This: If you’re trying to be comfortable and cute in Talahassee this homecoming season, you can't go wrong with the Rattler Pride Leggings. Pack a pair (or two) and enjoy your homecoming weekend in style.
Xavier University of Louisiana
November 3–8 | New Orleans
The charm of celebrating an HBCU homecoming in the city of New Orleans is unmatched.
This year's celebration, "A Legacy of Excellence," marks Xavier's first Homecoming after its historic Centennial celebration and invites alumni to help usher in the university's next 100 years. If your class year ends in 1 or 6, this is your reunion year, with special celebrations planned for milestone classes from 1941 through 2021.
One thing I especially appreciate? Xavier makes planning your trip easy. The Homecoming website includes recommended hotel partners (including alumni discounts at the Hubbard Mansion) so you can spend less time searching and more time looking forward to seeing your classmates again.
Pack This: Our new Xavier "On the Yard" Collection was made for weekends like this. Whether you're headed to the Alumni Banquet, reconnecting on Drexel Drive, or exploring New Orleans with your crew, these pieces let you represent Xavier in style.
via hamptonu.edu
Hampton University
October 18–25 | Hampton, VA
Hampton knows how to welcome Pirates home.
While the full Homecoming schedule is still unfolding, one thing is certain: Hampton knows how to throw a celebration. Every year, tens of thousands of students, alumni, and friends return to the waterfront campus for a weekend filled with Pirate pride, football, fellowship, and unforgettable memories. If recent years are any indication, you can expect standout concerts, lively tailgates, reunions, and a social calendar that keeps the energy going long after the final whistle.
Pack This: The Hampton University Lightweight Camo Jacket is the perfect layer for cool fall evenings, game day, and everything in between.
Morgan State University
October 4–11 | Baltimore, MD
Did you know Morgan State is literally a National Treasure? The university's entire campus is recognized as a historic national landmark, making it the only HBCU with that distinction.
As if that weren't enough reason to visit, Morgan's Homecoming is one of Baltimore's signature fall traditions. This year's festivities culminate on Saturday, October 10, when the Bears take on Robert Morris University at noon. Expect a week filled with Bear pride, reunions, and memories that'll have you counting down to next year.
Pack This: Homecoming weekends are marathons, not sprints. The Morgan State Floral Leggings will keep you comfortable from the first event to the last.
via Tuskeegee.edu
Tuskegee University
October 4–11 | Tuskegee, AL
Tuskegee knows that some traditions never go out of style.
From the annual NPHC Step Show and the Mister and Miss TU Gala to the Homecoming Parade and game day festivities, Homecoming weekend is a celebration of the university's rich history and the generations of Golden Tigers who continue to carry that legacy forward. Whether you're reconnecting with classmates or experiencing Tuskegee for the first time, you'll quickly understand why alumni return year after year.
Pack This: Dress them up for brunch or keep it casual for the tailgate. The Tuskeegee University Ankara Leggings are versatile enough to take you from one Homecoming event to the next.
Before You Hit the Yard...
Homecoming season has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute you're talking about making the trip, and the next your flight is booked, the group chat is buzzing, and everyone's asking the same question:
"So...what are you wearing?"
Whether you're celebrating 100 years of GHOE, heading back to The Mecca, reuniting in New Orleans, or making memories at your alma mater, now's the perfect time to start planning your homecoming look.
Explore our latest collections featuring Howard, NC A&T, Xavier, Hampton, Tuskegee, Morgan State, and more. You might just discover your new favorite piece before you head back to the yard.
Happy Homecoming season. We'll see you on the yard.
Love and Leggings,
Bibi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bibi Mama is a first generation Beninese-American actress born and raised in Mansfield, CT. Growing up she watched her father, an English professor and author, continue the Yoruba oral tradition through storytelling, which inspired her. She earned her B.F.A. from Howard University and recently finished her MFA at the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA Graduate Acting Program.