Homecoming 2026 to Feature Traditions, New Twists

From Oct. 4-10, Eastern students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members will come together for EWUs 103rd Homecoming, a full week of events celebrating traditions, memories and Eagle pride.

For Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, Eastern’s director of alumni relations, Homecoming has a simple meaning: “It’s when everyone comes home.”

This year’s “coming home” includes a mix of new events and familiar traditions. Among the new additions is Movie on The Red, a film screening that will take place Monday evening at Roos Field. Students voted to choose what movie would be shown, but the final selection will remain a surprise until the event. Students can bring blankets, settle onto the red turf and watch the film together. 

Homecoming will also bring back one of its most enduring traditions, the Bed Races. On Thursday night in downtown Cheney, teams made up of students, alumni and community members will race beds through the streets. Hatch-Brecek said the event is one of the Homecoming activities she especially recommends because it is “so unique and funny.” 

Walk Through the Decades, which Hatch-Brecek described as a “mini EWU museum”, is a two-day exhibit in Hargreaves Hall that gives visitors an opportunity to explore Eastern’s history through artifacts and memorabilia. The exhibit originally debuted during Eastern’s 100th Homecoming in 2023, and  it’s now making a comeback thanks to popular demand. This year, it will feature a special area highlighting the history of Dryden Hall, which will be torn down later this year to make way for a new residence hall. 

Homecoming 2026 will look different in another way. Due to city of Cheney restrictions, there will be no bonfire or fireworks display. Instead, Thursday evening will feature an alumni-owned business showcase at Eastern Coffee Roasters, to be followed by the traditional pep rally, bed races and community glow dance. 

For Hatch-Brecek, the week is ultimately about bringing people together and creating a sense of pride in EWU past, present and future. She hopes visitors “leave feeling so proud of how far Eastern has come and where it’s going.” 

EWU Homecoming Events 2026:

Sunday, Oct. 4

• 1 p.m. | Soccer vs. Weber State | EWU Soccer Field

Monday, Oct. 5

• Community Spirit Splash | City of Cheney
• 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Cupcakes at the Catalyst | Catalyst Lobby
• 7 p.m. | Movie on The Red | Roos Field 

Tuesday, Oct. 6

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Athletics Pizza Giveaway | Arévalo Student Mall
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Window Painting | Pence Union Building
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Car Bash | Arévalo Student Mall
• 6 p.m. | Volleyball vs. Idaho | Reese Court

Wednesday, Oct. 7

• 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. | Sustainability Swoop – Recycling Logo Competition | Pence Union Building, Table 1C
• 7 p.m. | Mario Kart on Ice | URC

Thursday, Oct. 8

• 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Alumni-Owned & Operated Business Showcase | 1st Street, Downtown Cheney
• 7 p.m. | Pep Rally | 1st Street, Downtown Cheney
• 8 p.m. | Bed Races | 1st Street Downtown Cheney
• 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. | “Light Up The Lot” Community Glow Dance | 1st Street, Downtown Cheney

Friday, Oct. 9

• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Walk Through the Decades | Hargreaves Hall
• 8 p.m. | EWU Hockey Game vs. WSU | URC

Saturday, Oct. 

• 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Walk Through the Decades | Hargreaves Hall
• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | STEM Expo | EWU Science (SCI) and Integrated Science Center (ISC) buildings
• 11 a.m. | EWU Hall of Fame | Pence Union Building Nysether Community Room
• 2 p.m. | Red Turf Nation Engagement Zone | Upper P-12 Lot
• 2 p.m. | Stadium Phase 2 Groundbreaking Ceremony | Bottom Entrance to Roos Field adjacent to P-9
• 4 p.m. | EWU Football Game vs. Northern Colorado

*Story written by Cara Peterson.