California football is leaning hard into Berkeley’s identity in 2026, rolling out a home schedule built around community, tradition and a few familiar touchstones that should feel right at home at California Memorial Stadium.
The Golden Bears announced Thursday that their seven-game slate will include celebrations of Bay Area culture, hometown heroes, AAPI culture, Homecoming, the 129th Big Game and the debut of the “Grateful Bears,” a first-time Grateful Dead-themed game tied to the band’s deep local roots.
The season opens Sept. 5 against UCLA at 7:30 p.m. PT, when Cal will welcome fans back for the Home Opener and usher in a new era under Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi. It also marks the return of a long-standing rivalry with former conference foe UCLA.
Two weeks later, on Sept. 19 at 12:30 p.m. PT, the Bears will stage “Rooted in the Bay Day” against Wagner. That game is set to spotlight Bay Area community and culture, with recognition planned for participants in this year’s Cal Athletics Summer Reading Challenge and an “Educator Appreciation” acknowledgment for local teachers.
Cal’s Friday night ACC opener against Clemson arrives Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. PT, and the program is calling for a “Gold Out.” The Bears will pair that with a special recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander culture as the famous Cal Gold fills the stadium.
Homecoming follows on Oct. 10 against Virginia Tech, bringing alumni back to Berkeley and inviting parents of current students to take in the Golden Bear experience.
Then comes one of the most distinctive entries on the schedule. On Oct. 17 against Wake Forest, Cal will host its first-ever Grateful Dead theme game. The school is using the matchup to honor the band’s Bay Area roots and its historic connection to the UC Berkeley campus, noting that the group played more concerts on or near campus than at any other university in the United States.
The rivalry game with Stanford is set for Nov. 21, when the 129th Big Game returns to CMS. Cal will again battle the Cardinal for The Axe in the longest and oldest college football rivalry on the West Coast.
The Bears close the home slate Nov. 28 against Pitt with a tribute to everyday heroes in the community, recognizing first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers and other frontline difference-makers across the Bay Area.
Specific kickoff times for the final four games will be announced later. Single-game and season tickets are already on sale.
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