The SEC Championship Game kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on ABC. Parking, the clear-bag rule and MARTA to SEC District Station.

Last checked Oct. 20, 2026. Facts come from Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s event page, its parking site and ESPN’s 2026 SEC broadcast schedule. This page is updated each year at the same address, and again when the matchup is set.

Yes, the game is in Atlanta this year. The 2026 SEC Championship Game kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, live on ABC, ESPN’s schedule says. The two teams are the top two in the final SEC standings, so the matchup is not known until the regular season ends.

At a glance

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026; kickoff 4 p.m. ET
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, downtown Atlanta
  • TV: ABC
  • Gates: opening time not announced yet
  • Tickets: SEC Ticket Office
  • MARTA: SEC District Station, formerly GWCC/CNN Center, $2.50 each way

What is confirmed and what is not

Detail Status
Date and stadium Confirmed: Dec. 5, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Kickoff and TV Confirmed by ESPN: 4 p.m. ET, ABC
Teams Set after the regular season ends
Gate time Not announced; the stadium lists it as TBA
Road closures Not published yet

Tickets

The stadium’s event page sends fans to the SEC Ticket Office for game tickets, and to mbssuites.com for suites. Hospitality packages are handled by email at hospitality2026@ambse.com. Buy from the official seller where you can; resale prices for a title game move fast once the matchup is set.

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 have one entrance only: 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. Anything bigger is turned away.
  • Bag storage: The Mobile Locker Company has lockers on the Northside Drive sidewalk near the Gate 1 box office and outside Gate 2 on Andrew Young International Boulevard. They open two hours before kickoff and close 90 minutes after the game.
  • Weather: if a severe weather alert is issued, gates stay open but fans may be rerouted or briefly held, the stadium says.

Parking

There are more than 20,000 parking spaces within a 20-minute walk of the stadium, it says, and lots often sell out before big events. Buy ahead on the stadium’s parking site; passes are emailed, and refunds and exchanges are generally not offered.

  • Official lots and decks include the Yellow Lot, Blue Lot, South Lot, Red Deck, Silver Deck, Orange Deck and the Home Depot Backyard (HDBY).
  • Shuttle: a shuttle loops from the Yellow Lot to the Blue Lot to Vine City MARTA station and back after the game.
  • Accessible parking: the stadium recommends HDBY first, then the Silver, Red and Orange decks.
  • Tailgating is allowed in designated areas of the official lots, under the stadium’s tailgate guidelines. No separate tailgating passes are sold.

More on downtown decks and driving in our getting around Atlanta page.

MARTA and rideshare

  • MARTA rail: SEC District Station (formerly GWCC/CNN Center) is the stadium stop. Fares are $2.50 each way.
  • Rideshare Zone 1: GWCC Bus Lane C on Northside Drive, best for Gate 1 and heading north, about a 10-minute walk over the Home Depot Backyard bridge. If the line is long, the stadium suggests Vine City station and a transfer at Five Points.
  • Rideshare Zone 2: Broad Street between Trinity Avenue and Mitchell Street, best for Gates 2 to 4 and the fastest way to the airport, I-20 and I-75/85. If the line is long, walk to Garnett station and transfer at Five Points.

Road closures

The city and the stadium had not published closures for Dec. 5 when we checked on Oct. 20. We will add them here. In the meantime, check our road construction and closures page and 511ga.org before you drive downtown.

What this means for you

  • Downtown fills on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 5; plan on MARTA if you can.
  • Buy parking ahead; the stadium says lots often sell out.
  • Leave the bag at home, or bring a clear one no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
  • The Celebration Bowl follows at the same stadium on Saturday, Dec. 12; see our Celebration Bowl page.

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

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 SEC Championship Game?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET on ABC, according to ESPN’s 2026 SEC broadcast schedule.

Who plays in the SEC Championship Game?

The top two teams in the final SEC standings. The matchup is set when the regular season ends.

Where do I buy SEC Championship Game tickets?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium sends fans to the SEC Ticket Office at secsports.com/ticketoffice. Suites are sold through the stadium.

Can I bring a bag to the SEC Championship Game?

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

What is the best way to get to the SEC Championship Game?

MARTA to SEC District Station, formerly GWCC/CNN Center, at $2.50 each way. If you drive, buy parking ahead on the stadium’s parking site; lots often sell out.