All 2026 Events

Kick off Homecoming Week in true Wildcat style! Join us for an epic block party featuring a live performance by the Commonwealth Band, fun games, FREE food trucks, and exclusive homecoming giveaways — including University of Kentucky sweaters for early arrivals while supplies last! This free event is open to everyone — current students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, friends, and community members are all welcome. Free parking is available in the surrounding lots. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly — we can't wait to celebrate with you! 

Monday - Thursday
Catch the Swag Cab on campus during 2026 Homecoming Week! We’ll be cruising through campus with special guests each day to provide lucky students with a ride to class and a chance to win prizes if they can correctly answer trivia questions – Cash Cab style! Flag us down for your chance to win!

7:30 p.m. I Main Lawn
"A game for those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind... Jumanji."  Enter a new game and head over to Main Lawn to watch Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), part of the SOA Cinema Series and UK Homecoming Week activities! Free snacks will be provided to students while supplies last! This event will be outdoors, so students are encouraged to bring your own blankets. 

Monday - Thursday
Catch the Swag Cab on campus during 2026 Homecoming Week! We’ll be cruising through campus with special guests each day to provide lucky students with a ride to class and a chance to win prizes if they can correctly answer trivia questions – Cash Cab style! Flag us down for your chance to win!

6-9 p.m. 
Gatton Student Center Harris Ballroom 
What better way to kick off Homecoming Week than with a chance to win UK-themed prizes! Join SAB for Big Blue Bingo, where you can show off your school spirit during Homecoming Week by playing bingo, winning free UK merchandise and enjoying free food while you play! We’ll see you there on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 6-8 p.m. in the Harris Ballroom. 

Monday - Thursday
Catch the Swag Cab on campus during 2026 Homecoming Week! We’ll be cruising through campus with special guests each day to provide lucky students with a ride to class and a chance to win prizes if they can correctly answer trivia questions – Cash Cab style! Flag us down for your chance to win!

9 – 11 a.m. | Alumni Commons
Join the Student Alumni Association (SAA) and the Student Activities Board (SAB), for FREE coffee, donuts and bagels on Wednesday at Alumni Commons. Show your Homecoming spirit and grab breakfast with us! Stay as long as you'd like or just stop by for a quick bite to eat on your way to class. Wildcat Wednesday is open to all UK students!

We'll see you there!

BONUS: Active SAA student members will receive a free shirt!

7-10 p.m. 
Gatton Student Center Harris Ballroom  
Celebrate Homecoming 2026 with the UK Homecoming Court! Join us for the Homecoming Royalty Showcase, where members of the Homecoming Court will share their talents, answer UK-themed questions live on stage and the 2026 Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned. 

Monday - Thursday
Catch the Swag Cab on campus during 2026 Homecoming Week! We’ll be cruising through campus with special guests each day to provide lucky students with a ride to class and a chance to win prizes if they can correctly answer trivia questions – Cash Cab style! Flag us down for your chance to win!

2-4 p.m. 

The Hilton Lexington Downtown | 369 W. Vine Street 

Come check in and grab your welcome bag for the weekend! Whether you’re staying at the Hilton Lexington Downtown or another location, we’ll be in the lobby passing out nametags, welcome bags, itinerary, and any physical tickets you may have purchased. Come say hi!  

Click here to register.

3-5 p.m.
Courtyard of Champions, Gatton Student Center 
Students can snag Wildcat gear, enjoy live music and grab free food at this event. The celebration will feature thrifted UK clothing and merchandise, tote bag giveaways, a live DJ set from WRFL, and food provided by the UK Alumni Association.  

6-9 p.m. 

Harris Ballroom | Gatton Student Center | 160 Avenue of Champions

Join us for a reception, delicious dinner, and recognition ceremony! Members of the Class of 1976 will receive their pins and be inducted into the Golden Wildcat Society.  

Click here to register.

Class of 1976 Photo 

8:30 p.m. 

Harris Ballroom | Gatton Student Center | 160 Avenue of Champions

Immediately following the induction dinner, we would love to capture a Class of 1976 group photo! Please stick around after the dinner and program to ensure you’re included in the photo. 

7:00–9:00 p.m.
Kroger Field – Kentucky Recruiting  Room
Open to students and alumni, this event will provide an engaging opportunity for networking through music and bingo-inspired activities while also highlighting upcoming MLK Center programs and anniversary initiatives. We invite you to register here and join us for the evening!

10 a.m. – Noon
Gatton Student Center Social Staircase Table 2

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Gatton Student Center | Grand Ballroom
Avenue of Champions

The University of Kentucky Alumni Association’s Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Constituency Group will continue the tradition of hosting the 35th annual awards luncheon in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom during Homecoming Week. Join us in honoring alumni and students from each academic college who embody the spirit and accomplishments of Lyman T. Johnson and have positively impacted the lives of others and their community.

This event is open to all alumni and friends of UK. Individual tickets are $50 and reserved tables are available for $600. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. Proceeds will benefit the Lyman T Johnson Scholarship Fund. 

For more information, contact Mason Mayborg at mason.mayborg@uky.edu.

Click here to purchase tickets to the luncheon.
 

Keeneland Race Course | 4201 Versailles Rd, Lexington, KY 40510
Head to the most beautiful track in America for a day of racing, UK pride, and unforgettable memories! Cheer on the horses, catch live performances by the UK and snag an exclusive commemorative print created in partnership with celebrated UK alumna and artist Aimee Griffith ('06). With stunning photo opportunities throughout the day and special Winner's Circle events, this is one race day you won't want to miss! 

Click here to register for FREE General Admission! 🐎 

A limited amount of Phoenix Room tickets are available here.

6-8 p.m.
Local Taco | 315 S Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508
Tin Roof | 303 S Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508

We hope you will join us if you are in town for UK Homecoming festivities. Come to Local Taco to enjoy free food and drinks in their private space. We will have Homecoming giveaways and most importantly—a chance to connect with fellow recent grads!

We are partnering with Tin Roof for an all-night Happy Hour special for Young Alumni! Be sure to pick up your wristband while at Local Taco to access this special opportunity! *Wristbands do not guarantee entry to Tin Roof

Click here to register

7 p.m. I Otis A. Singletary Center for the Arts 

The annual National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Homecoming Step Show is a time to come together to celebrate community. Come out and see who the fraternity & sorority winners for 2026 will be! 

The biggest UK NPHC fundraiser of the year is back and better than ever!  We are celebrating the chapter anniversaries of the Kappa Tau Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  

To purchase tickets HERE, $25 through October 8. The day of the event, tickets will be $30. 

7 p.m. I Historic Memorial Coliseum
Watch the Kentucky Volleyball team take on LSU at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Purchase single-match tickets here.

7:30 p.m. I Bell Soccer Complex
Watch the Kentucky Women’s Soccer team take on Texas at Bell Complex. Free Admission!

10 a.m. to Noon
400 Rose Street | King Alumni House Basement | Lexington, KY 40506

Join the newly formed UK Asian/Asian American Pacific Islander Alumni Network (UK-A/AAPIAN) leadership team, fellow alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends for a special Homecoming brunch at the King Alumni House! This event is a great opportunity to network, reconnect, and learn more about this group dedicated to connecting Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Wildcats around the world.

Cost $20/person | $10/student. Click here to purchase tickets to the brunch.

Questions? Contact AAAPIAN at ukaapian@gmail.com or Mason Mayborg at Mason.Mayborg@uky.edu

4 p.m.
Good Barn Lawn | 1451 University Drive, Lexington, KY 40506
Let's get loud before the game even starts! Join us under the tent for a full-blown Wildcat celebration —tailgate eats, games, giveaways and can't-miss performances. This is the pre-game party you don't want to skip. Click here to purchase tickets

7 p.m.
Kroger Field | 1540 University Drive | Lexington, KY 40506 
It's Tigers vs. Wildcats in this SEC matchup against LSU for the 2026 Homecoming game! Click here to purchase tickets

Say goodbye to your fellow Class of 1976 alumni during a breakfast buffet!

2 p.m. I Historic Memorial Coliseum
Watch the Kentucky Volleyball team take on Ole Miss at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Purchase single-match tickets here.