If you’re walking through downtown Athens right now, the air feels a little different. The 2025 season just wrapped up with that bittersweet Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss, but honestly, nobody in the Classic City is looking backward. The conversation at The World Famous or Magnolias is already shifting toward next fall. Specifically, everyone is asking: when do the Georgia Bulldogs play in 2026?
The SEC finally dropped the full schedule, and it’s a weird one. We've got nine conference games for the first time. We’ve got a massive rivalry moving to a new city. And we’ve got a home slate that looks like a heavyweight boxing card. If you're trying to plan your life around the Dawgs, put down the calendar and let’s get into the weeds of this 2026 gauntlet.
The 2026 Football Schedule: Dates You Need to Circle
The season kicks off on September 5, 2026.
Georgia starts at home against Tennessee State. It’s the first time these two programs have ever met, which is kinda cool for the history books. After that, Western Kentucky comes to town on September 12. Most fans see these as "tune-up" games, but Kirby Smart isn't the type to let the team sleepwalk through September.
The real fireworks start the week after.
September: The Road Begins
- Sept. 19: at Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
- Sept. 26: vs. Oklahoma (Athens, GA)
Going to Fayetteville is never a walk in the park. Then, Oklahoma comes to Sanford Stadium. Think about that for a second. The last time we saw the Sooners, it was that legendary Rose Bowl shootout in 2017. This time, they’re coming to our house as full-blown SEC members.
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October: The Meat of the Schedule
- Oct. 3: vs. Vanderbilt (Athens, GA)
- Oct. 10: at Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
- Oct. 17: vs. Auburn (Athens, GA)
- Oct. 24: OFF (Bye Week)
- Oct. 31: vs. Florida (Atlanta, GA)
Yes, you read that right. when do the georgia bulldogs play Florida? Halloween. But not in Jacksonville. Because of the massive renovations happening at EverBank Stadium, the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" is moving to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for 2026. It’s going to be a different vibe, for sure. Also, having to go to Tuscaloosa just seven days before hosting Auburn is basically the SEC's way of saying "good luck."
November: The Finishing Kick
- Nov. 7: at Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)
- Nov. 14: vs. Missouri (Athens, GA)
- Nov. 21: at South Carolina (Columbia, SC)
- Nov. 28: vs. Georgia Tech (Athens, GA)
Closing out against Tech at home is always the goal. Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate on November 28 will decide bragging rights for the state, as per usual.
Why the 2026 Schedule is a Historical Outlier
This isn't just another year of football. The jump to a nine-game SEC schedule changed everything.
For years, Kirby Smart has been vocal about wanting more big-time home games for the fans and the local economy. He got his wish. Oklahoma, Auburn, and Missouri all coming to Athens makes this one of the most expensive season ticket packages in recent memory. But it’s also a grind.
The Florida move is the biggest talking point. Jacksonville has been the home of that game since nearly the beginning of time (or 1933, close enough). Playing in Atlanta in 2026 and then Tampa in 2027 is a radical experiment. Will the tailgating be the same? Probably not. Will the stadium be louder? Almost certainly.
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Basketball and Beyond: When Do the Bulldogs Play Right Now?
If you aren't willing to wait until September, the 2025-26 basketball season is currently in full swing. Mike White has the men’s team hovering around the Top 25, and Stegeman Coliseum has actually been rocking lately.
Next Up for Men's Basketball:
The Dawgs are hosting Arkansas today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET. It’s a huge Top-25 matchup. If you can’t get a ticket (it’s sold out), it’s on ESPN2.
Upcoming Men's Hoops Highlights:
- Jan 20: at Missouri
- Jan 24: at Texas
- Jan 27: vs. Tennessee (Home)
On the women’s side, Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has a big one tomorrow. The Lady Bulldogs play Ole Miss at home on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at noon. It’s Alumni Day, so expect a lot of legends in the building.
Navigating the Logistics of 2026 Games
Look, if you’re planning to attend any of these, especially the Oklahoma game or the Florida game in Atlanta, start booking now.
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Atlanta hotels for Halloween weekend are already starting to spike because people realize the Georgia-Florida game is a different animal when it’s in a city with that much infrastructure.
Pro-tip for Sanford Stadium: With seven home games on the slate for 2026, the demand for parking is going to be nightmare-level. If you aren't in a donor lot, look into the park-and-ride options from the intramural fields earlier than usual. The SEC’s new scheduling format means almost every home game is a "big" game now. There are no "off" weeks in the stands.
Actionable Steps for Bulldogs Fans
The schedule is out, but the work is just starting for fans who want to actually be there in person.
- Check Your Points: If you're a member of the Hartford Foundation, check your priority points now. The Oklahoma and Auburn games will be the highest-demand tickets in Sanford Stadium.
- Atlanta Planning: For the October 31st game against Florida, don't just look at hotels near Mercedes-Benz. Check the MARTA lines. Staying in Midtown or even further north and taking the train in is the only way to keep your sanity.
- Basketball Tickets: Since the football team isn't playing, the basketball games are selling out fast. Use the official GeorgiaDogs.com site for secondary market verified tickets to avoid the scams that always pop up on social media.
Keeping track of when do the Georgia Bulldogs play is basically a full-time job these days with the expanded SEC and the moving targets for rivalry games. But whether it’s at the Steg or under the lights at Sanford, the 2026 calendar is officially set.
Go Dawgs.
Next Steps for You:
- Log into your UGA ticket account to check 2026 season ticket renewal deadlines.
- Mark the October 31, 2026 date in your calendar for the Atlanta-based Florida game.
- If you’re heading to the basketball game today, arrive at Stegeman at least 45 minutes early—the security lines have been long with the recent Top-25 surges.