UW Leaders and Students Celebrate 115th Homecoming Traditions

We celebrate Homecoming because it is this unique opportunity to bring Badgers of all kinds together, Wisconsin Homecoming Committee Director of Marketing & Communications Hadley Giesser said. The University of Wisconsin is celebrating its 115th year of Homecoming festivities from Sept. 28 through Oct. 3, 2026, featuring a lineup of traditions and events presented by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee, and the Wisconsin Union.

The week-long celebration began with a collaboration involving student organization Letters of Love, where students wrote letters for children facing serious illnesses. The Wisconsin Homecoming Committee also hosted a Window Display Showcase at Memorial Union on Monday, allowing registered student organizations to exhibit school spirit through window paintings that remain on view all week.

University of Wisconsin Homecoming Schedule and New Collaborations

Along with signature events, organizers introduced new campus collaborations for the 2026 schedule, highlighting the breadth of the university from agriculture to athletics and the arts, according to Wisconsin Homecoming Committee president Clara Mak. A daily campus-wide Medallion Hunt featuring a scavenger hunt and prizes runs from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2.

Thursday features the Fill the Hill event at 5 p.m., where a flock of pink plastic flamingos graces Bascom Hill, as reported by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. For the first time, students can also attend a Cheese and Meat Tasting on Library Mall from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, hosted by the Badger Cheese Club and UW Meat Sciences.

Friday marks the peak of the week with the UW Homecoming Parade starting at 6 p.m., featuring more than 60 groups traveling down State Street. Following the parade, attendees can visit the Memorial Union Terrace and Alumni Park for the UW Homecoming Block Party and Pep Rally, which includes fireworks, weather permitting. The evening concludes with the Multicultural Homecoming Yard Show, showcasing performances from the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Council.

Wisconsin Badgers Face Michigan State in Homecoming Football Game

The celebration culminates on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, when the Wisconsin Badgers football team takes on Michigan State. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., according to Wisconsin Athletics. A complete list of events and activities is available at wiscohoco.com and uwalumni.com/homecoming.

It also serves as a chance to honor their ties to UW, serving as a reminder that being a Badger extends far beyond our campus years. Homecoming provides a wonderful occasion to reunite and honor that feeling since there truly is no place like home.

Hadley Giesser