BERKELEY – The California football program announced its home game themes for the upcoming 2026 season on Thursday. Over the course of the Golden Bears' seven-game slate at California Memorial Stadium, fans will have the opportunity to celebrate some of the hallmarks of Berkeley culture as the new era of Cal football under Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi unfolds. Highlights include a celebration of the Bay Area community and culture, honoring hometown heroes and AAPI culture, the rich traditions of Homecoming and the 129th Big Game and the highly anticipated introduction of the "Grateful Bears". 

Below is a description of the theme for each home game this season. Specific kickoff times for the final four contests will be revealed at a later date. 

September 5 vs. UCLA (7:30 p.m. PT)
Theme: Home Opener 

The gates to California Memorial Stadium will be opened for the new football season, inviting fans to help usher in the new era of Cal football as Lupoi takes the sideline as Cal's head coach for the first time and a long-standing rivalry with former conference foe UCLA is renewed. 

September 19 vs. Wagner (12:30 p.m. PT)
Theme: Rooted in the Bay Day

Bay Area community and culture will be at the heart of CMS on "Rooted in the Bay Day" as the Bears pay tribute to their home region's community members and its rich history of diversity, arts, music and food. Participants of this year's Cal Athletics Summer Reading Challenge will be recognized and fans are invited to join in celebrating local educators in an "Educator Appreciation" acknowledgment. More information on how to join the reading challenge can be found here. 

September 25 vs. Clemson (7:30 p.m. PT)
Theme: Gold Out & AAPI Appreciation

The famous Cal Gold will light up the night sky for Cal's Friday night ACC opener against Clemson, with the Bears inviting fans to participate in a "Gold Out" in the stands and join in a special recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture. 

October 10 vs. Virginia Tech 
Theme: Homecoming 

Cal's annual Homecoming celebration will welcome alumni back home to Berkeley to revel in the nostalgia of their time as students, while parents of current students are invited to get a taste of the Golden Bear lifestyle. 

October 17 vs. Wake Forest 
Theme: Grateful Bears 

Cal football will be hosting its first ever Grateful Dead theme game to honor the iconic Bay Area band's deep local roots and historic connection to the UC Berkeley campus. The legendary group played more concerts on or near campus than at any other university in the United States, cementing Berkeley as a true home for its music.

November 21 vs. Stanford 
Theme: 129th Big Game

The longest and oldest college football rivalry on the West Coast will be renewed in the 129th rendition of the Big Game. The battle for The Axe will go down on the gridiron at CMS as Cal looks to take back the perennial trophy from the Cardinal. 

November 28 vs. Pitt 
Theme: Hometown Heroes 

The Bears will honor the everyday heroes of their community, inviting fans to recognize first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers and other frontline community difference-makers across the Bay Area. 

Single-game and season tickets are now available for purchase. Secure your spot for all seven home games now. For more information, visit calbears.com, call 800-GO-BEARS or email goldstandard@berkeley.edu.