Cal Football Home Game Themes Announced For 2026
Cal will host seven games, all with an interesting theme.
For those wondering about how to appropriately prepare for each game this season, we have some themes for each game!
September 5, UCLA: Home Opener (7:30 p.m. PT): Tosh Lupoi returns to the Cal football sidelines for an After Dark game.
September 19 vs. Wagner (12:30 p.m. PT) — Rooted in the Bay Day: Cal celebrates Bay Area community and culture, honoring Summer Reading Challenge participants and local educators.
September 25 vs. Clemson (7:30 p.m. PT) — Gold Out & AAPI Appreciation: A Friday night Gold Out for Cal’s ACC opener, with special recognition of AAPI culture.
October 10 vs. Virginia Tech — Homecoming: Alumni and parents celebrate Cal’s annual Homecoming.
October 17 vs. Wake Forest — Grateful Bears: Cal will have its first ever Grateful Dead theme game, honoring the band’s deep ties to Berkeley.
November 21 vs. Stanford — College football’s oldest West Coast rivalry, as Cal fights to reclaim the Axe.
November 28 vs. Pitt — Hometown Heroes: Cal honors first responders, military, healthcare workers and other community heroes.