UF Homecoming and Gator Growl: 2026 recap, 2027 updates

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. Facts come from the organizers at UF Homecoming and Gator Growl, with start times from the Discover Gainesville visitors bureau’s events calendar where the organizers give none. This page is updated for each year’s Homecoming at the same address.

Updated Oct. 14: Homecoming 2026 has passed. The parade and Gator Growl were held Friday, Oct. 9. The organizers have not yet announced 2027 dates; this page will be updated when they do. The 2026 details are kept below for reference.

UF Homecoming came to Gainesville on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. The Homecoming Parade, which the organizers call the largest student-run parade in the nation, starts at noon and runs from the University of Florida campus to downtown. That night, Gator Growl fills the Stephen C. O’Connell Center with comedian Nikki Glaser as the headliner. The Gators play South Carolina at home the next day.

Know before you go

• Parade: noon Friday, Oct. 9; parade details and route
• Gator Growl: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the O’Connell Center; tickets and FAQ
• Cost: the parade is free to watch; Gator Growl is ticketed
• Who to call: UF Homecoming and Gator Growl, 352-273-0834 or help@gatorgrowl.org; University Box Office, 352-392-1653

The Homecoming Parade

The organizers say tens of thousands of people watch the parade each year, live or on television, and that the whole Gainesville and UF community is welcome. Student organizations and sponsors fill the lineup.

The parade route has been adapted this year to account for the speed tables on University Avenue, according to the organizers. Questions go to the parade director at parade@ufhomecoming.org.

Road closures and parking. The organizers have not published a list of street closures or parking for 2026. Expect 13th Street and University Avenue along the route to be busy from late morning, and check FL511 or dial 511 before you drive. Downtown parking options are on the city’s downtown parking page.

Gator Growl

Gator Growl is the student-run pep rally at the heart of Homecoming, now in its 102nd year, according to the organizers. In 2026 it is held at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Friday, Oct. 9. The Discover Gainesville events calendar lists it from 7 to 9 p.m.

• Headliner: comedian Nikki Glaser
• Co-hosts: Laura Rutledge and Brandon Spikes
• Order of show: Petty Theft, UF Color Guard, Audree Silien, Danza Dance Company, the Dazzlers, Gators Cheer and Spirit, the Homecoming Court, the Lion Dance Team, Gators Athletics and Football, Reg Thomas and Nikki Glaser

Tickets. Tickets are sold on Ticketmaster and need an access code, according to the Gator Growl ticket FAQ:

• UF students enter their UFID as the code and are emailed a separate code for family members.
• Other ticket groups are emailed their own code. If yours did not arrive, email help@gatorgrowl.org or call the box office at 352-392-1653.
• Each person may buy tickets for themselves and up to three guests.
• Gator Growl is open to UF and Santa Fe College students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters of the university and families.
• Group sales go through the University Box Office, 352-392-1653.

The rest of Homecoming week

The parade and Gator Growl close out a run of Homecoming events, all listed on the organizers’ home page:

• Gator Gallop, 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, from the Plaza of the Americas: a 2-mile fun run across campus and along the parade route. The first 700 registrants get a T-shirt and medal. Register on RunSignup.
• Homecoming Festival, 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Plaza of the Americas, with booths from local businesses and student groups. Festival details.
• Florida vs. South Carolina, 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, as listed on the Gators football schedule.
• Earlier in the season: the Chomp for Charity 5K (Sept. 16 at Depot Park), the Leadership Pageant (Sept. 22 at University Auditorium) and Soulfest (Oct. 1 at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom).

Children. Parents or guardians must make sure minors are accompanied by an adult at all Homecoming activities, including the parade, Gator Gallop and the festival, the organizers say.

Frequently asked questions

When is UF Homecoming? The 2026 Homecoming Parade and Gator Growl were both Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, and the 2027 dates have not been announced. The parade started at noon and Gator Growl was that night at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

What is the UF Homecoming Parade route? The 2026 parade starts at 13th Street and Museum Road, heads north on 13th Street, turns onto University Avenue and ends at Bo Diddley Plaza on Main Street.

Who is performing at Gator Growl 2026? Comedian Nikki Glaser headlines, with co-hosts Laura Rutledge and Brandon Spikes. The organizers list Petty Theft, the Dazzlers, Gators Cheer and Spirit and others in the order of show.

How do I get Gator Growl tickets? Tickets are sold on Ticketmaster with an access code. UF students use their UFID; other groups are emailed a code. The University Box Office is at 352-392-1653.

Is the UF Homecoming Parade free? Yes. The parade is on public streets, and the organizers say the whole Gainesville and UF community is welcome to watch.

What this means for you

• Driving through campus or downtown Friday? Plan around the parade from late morning into the afternoon, and around the O’Connell Center crowd in the evening.
• Watching the parade: any spot along 13th Street or University Avenue works; the route ends downtown at Bo Diddley Plaza.
• Game day follows on Saturday. More October plans are in things to do in Gainesville this month.

Related: things to do in Gainesville this weekend, downtown Gainesville and road construction and closures.