The 11th Cricket Celebration Bowl, the HBCU national title game, kicks off at noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on ABC. Tickets, bags and MARTA.

Last checked Oct. 20, 2026. Facts come from ESPN Events’ 2026-27 bowl schedule and Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s event page. This page is updated each year at the same address, and again when the teams are set.

Yes, the Celebration Bowl is on this year. The 11th Cricket Celebration Bowl kicks off at noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, live on ABC, ESPN Events says. The game is the national championship for historically Black colleges and universities: the champion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) against the champion of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). It opens the college bowl season.

At a glance

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026; kickoff noon ET
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, downtown Atlanta
  • TV: ABC
  • Teams: MEAC champion vs. SWAC champion, set when the conference seasons end
  • Tickets: thecelebrationbowl.com/tickets
  • The night before: Band of the Year, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, same stadium

What is confirmed and what is not

Detail Status
Date, stadium, kickoff, TV Confirmed by ESPN Events: Dec. 12, noon ET, ABC
Teams Set after the MEAC and SWAC seasons
Gate time Not announced; the stadium lists it as TBA
Ticket prices Not listed on the stadium page
Road closures Not published yet

Band of the Year, Friday, Dec. 11

The night before the game, Band of the Year, an HBCU marching band showcase, fills the same stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m., the stadium’s event page says. The bands had not been named when we checked. Tickets are sold through bandoftheyear.com.

Tickets

The stadium sends fans to the Celebration Bowl’s ticket page for game tickets and to mbssuites.com for suites. Hospitality package questions go to hospitality2026@ambse.com.

Getting in: gates and the bag rule

  • Any gate works for most fans. Suite and club guests can also use the North Club Entrance.
  • Floor seats must use the floor entry line near Gate 1 and the soccer ball sculpture.
  • Bags: the stadium recommends bringing none. A clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches is allowed, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches with it.
  • Weather: in a severe weather alert, fans may be rerouted or briefly held at entry, so allow extra time.

Parking, MARTA and rideshare

  • Parking: more than 20,000 spaces are within a 20-minute walk, the stadium says, and lots often sell out. Buy ahead on the stadium’s parking site, where passes are emailed and refunds are generally not offered. Tailgating is allowed in designated areas of the official lots.
  • MARTA: SEC District Station, formerly GWCC/CNN Center, is the stadium stop; fares are $2.50 each way.
  • Rideshare: Zone 1 is GWCC Bus Lane C on Northside Drive, for Gate 1; Zone 2 is Broad Street between Trinity Avenue and Mitchell Street, for Gates 2 to 4 and the fastest way to the airport and the interstates.

Our getting around Atlanta page covers downtown decks and transit. Road closures had not been published on Oct. 20; check road construction and closures and 511ga.org before you drive.

What this means for you

  • It is a noon kickoff, so downtown traffic builds on Saturday morning, Dec. 12.
  • Make a weekend of it: Band of the Year is Friday night at the same stadium.
  • The SEC Championship Game is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium a week earlier, on Saturday, Dec. 5; see our SEC Championship Game page.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month and Centennial Olympic Park.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Celebration Bowl?

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, live on ABC, ESPN Events says. It is the 11th Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Who plays in the Celebration Bowl?

The champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), in the national championship game for historically Black colleges and universities. The teams are set when the two conference seasons end.

Where do I buy Celebration Bowl tickets?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium sends fans to thecelebrationbowl.com/tickets. Suites go through the stadium, and hospitality questions to hospitality2026@ambse.com.

Is there a band event before the Celebration Bowl?

Yes. Band of the Year, an HBCU marching band showcase, is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium the night before, Friday, Dec. 11. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

What bags are allowed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?

A clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. The stadium recommends bringing no bag.