Location: Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Wy, San Diego, CA 92108
Date: Jan 2, 2026 – 5pm
Holiday Bowl, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
The 46th annual Holiday Bowl is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Snapdragon Stadium. This matchup will feature leading teams from the ACC competing against current or former teams from the Pac-12. The kickoff is set for 5:00 PM PT and will be broadcast on FOX.
This year’s event signifies the inaugural occasion that the Holiday Bowl will be held in January.
Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, expressed, “We are truly excited about this game date and kickoff time. The timing allows fans to travel to San Diego to support their teams and enjoy several days in what we consider the premier bowl destination in America. The Friday night primetime kickoff is designed to enhance television viewership for FOX’s coverage of the game. Additionally, the date and kickoff time are perfect for our dedicated local fans to partake in the celebrations at the conclusion of the holiday season. It’s a win for everyone involved!”
In the previous year, Syracuse triumphed over Washington State with a score of 52–35, marking it as the third-highest scoring game in the history of the Holiday Bowl. Only the iconic 1980 BYU–SMU game (91 points) and Penn State’s 50–39 victory over BYU in 1989 (89 points) recorded higher scores.
Attendees of the 2026 Holiday Bowl can anticipate a variety of festivities, including Bowl Bash—a street party in downtown San Diego, the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade presented by Kaiser Permanente, and the Holiday Bowl Game Day 5K.
Tickets will initially be offered to annual bowl game ticketholders before becoming available to the general public in September.
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