Upcoming Celebration Bowl dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Best Celebration Bowl seats: close to the field, close to the bands
The best seat for the Celebration Bowl is a 100-level sideline seat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, set back from the first few rows. You are near the field and near the marching bands, whose halftime and pregame shows are a central part of the day. For a full view of band formations and the plays developing, the 200-level sideline is the better pick.
Two league winners meet here: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title holder and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) title holder. The victor is recognized as the top team in football at HBCUs, the historically Black colleges and universities. The 2026 game, the 11th, kicks off the bowl calendar at noon Eastern on Saturday, December 12, with ABC televising.
Lower bowl, clubs and upper deck at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The stadium, which opened in 2017, holds about 71,000 for football and can stretch to 75,000. Overhead are a retractable roof built from eight see-through panels and the Halo, a ring-shaped video board about 58 feet tall and 1,100 feet around. The building is climate-controlled, so December weather plays no role in where you sit.
- 100 level. The lower bowl. Sideline seats here put you nearest the action and the bands. Middle and upper rows see over the benches and sideline crowd better than the front rows do.
- 200 level. Clubs and lofts along the sidelines, plus a higher angle that shows formations and band drills in full.
- 300 level. The upper deck and the budget choice. The sightline is direct, yet attendance at this game has run between roughly 26,000 and 50,000, so the top of a 71,000-seat building can feel far from the noise below.
Each school's fans tend to sit together. If you are going with fellow alumni, buy on your school's side once the matchup and seating arrangement are clear.
Jamborees, halftime and the HBCU band tradition
Marching bands are the heart of HBCU football, and the bowl's game day is built around them. For 2026, college bands take the stage at 9 a.m. in the College Band Jamboree, and high school bands follow at 10 a.m. Vendors and sponsor booths run before kickoff and reopen once the game ends. If the bands are a reason you are going, get there early. Do not leave for concessions at halftime either: for much of the crowd, the band performances rank right alongside the game.
Graduates traveling from the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic fill much of the stadium, and a noon kickoff in mid-December turns the game into an easy Atlanta weekend.
Why Celebration Bowl demand rises and falls
Crowd size depends on which schools qualify, and resale demand follows. Jackson State, a SWAC program known for a big traveling following, appeared in both of the biggest games by attendance, 48,653 in 2021 and a record 49,670 a year later. The 2025 pairing of South Carolina State and Prairie View A&M, by contrast, drew 26,703. Schools a short drive from Atlanta, or with many graduates living in the region, lift demand; two distant schools leave more lower-level seats open.
The buying window is short. The MEAC finishes its season and the SWAC plays its championship game in early December, and only then is the pairing set. Lower sideline seats sell first. Reserved Seat orders are covered by a 100% guarantee.
Sponsors, partners and how teams qualify
Cricket Wireless has been the title sponsor since 2020, so the game is widely known as the Cricket Celebration Bowl. Earlier, the Air Force Reserve sponsored three editions (2015, 2016 and 2018). ESPN Events operates the bowl, partnering with the Falcons and with the civic group 100 Black Men of Atlanta, which stages community programs in the days before kickoff.
There is no at-large invitation. Winning the conference is the only way in, and the SWAC settles that question with a championship game of its own. Both leagues play in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the division one step below major-college FBS football.
Georgia Dome debut to four-overtime finish
The inaugural game, played December 19, 2015, in the Georgia Dome before 35,528, ended North Carolina A&T 41, Alcorn State 34. When the new stadium took over from the Dome in 2017, the bowl moved with it.
- Unbeaten in Atlanta: North Carolina A&T has played four times and won all four, the last in 2019.
- Biggest shootout: 108 combined points in 2019, when North Carolina A&T put up 64 against Alcorn State's 44.
- The missing year: no 2020 game, because the pandemic wiped out the MEAC's fall season and pushed the SWAC's to spring 2021.
- Extra periods: in 2022, NC Central topped Jackson State 41–34 after regulation ended tied; in 2025, South Carolina State needed four overtimes to get past Prairie View A&M, 40–38.
- Remaining winners: South Carolina State (2021), Florida A&M (2023), Jackson State (2024).
MARTA stations, parking and the clear-bag rule
- Rail. The closest MARTA station is SEC District, which used to be called GWCC/CNN Center; Vine City, a Blue and Green line stop, is the other nearby option. On game day, the train usually beats driving downtown.
- Parking. Lots and decks ring the stadium; a pass bought ahead saves time.
- Bags. Per the bowl, bags must be see-through plastic, vinyl or PVC and no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches; a gallon freezer bag also works, and you may add a small clutch.
- Paying. Cards and mobile pay only, a policy in place since 2019; concession prices here are notably low.
Rules are set event by event. Confirm details on the bowl's fan experience page before game day.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I sit to see the bands at the Celebration Bowl?
The lower bowl along a sideline puts you near the bands, while 200-level sideline seats show their full formations. Arrive early for the morning jamborees.
What time is the 2026 Celebration Bowl?
Noon Eastern, Saturday, December 12, 2026, with ABC carrying the game from Atlanta.
How do teams qualify for the Celebration Bowl?
Only conference champions play: one from the MEAC and one from the SWAC. Whoever wins is considered the best HBCU team in FCS football that season.
Is the Celebration Bowl usually sold out?
Not always. Crowds have ranged from about 26,000 to the record 49,670 in a stadium of about 71,000, so seats are often available, especially in the upper deck.
When do the band jamborees start?
College bands perform at 9 a.m. and high school bands at 10 a.m., according to the 2026 fan schedule.
Which program has the most Celebration Bowl wins?
North Carolina A&T, which is 4–0 in the game.