What's New In Kenan Stadium In 2026

Carolina football's 100th season in Kenan Stadium will get underway in just under two weeks, and Carolina Athletics wants to make sure fans are prepared for their return to Kenan ahead of the Sept. 12 home opener against ETSU. Check out the list below for updated game day experiences and procedures. More details and updates will be posted throughout the season on GoHeels.com and on each week's Gameday Guide.

Single-game tickets for all six 2026 home games are available now. Click HERE to reserve your seats before it's too late!

Chapel Thrill Game Day
Chapel Thrill Game Day, a fun and family-friendly event that brings together Tar Heel fans before every home football game, will return to Carolina football game days this fall. The festivities will begin three hours before kickoff of every home game with performers taking the stage in front of Wilson Library starting two hours before kickoff. This year's slate:

2026 Chapel Thrill Concert Series, Presented by The Rams Club

Sept. 12 vs. East Tennessee State – DJ Diesel (Buy Game Tickets)

Oct. 3 vs. Notre Dame – Chase Rice (Buy Game Tickets)

Oct. 24 vs. Syracuse – Parmalee (Buy Game Tickets)

Oct. 31 vs. Miami – Neon Trees (Buy Game Tickets)

Nov. 14 vs. Louisville – Waka Flocka Flame (Buy Game Tickets)

Nov. 28 vs. NC State – 38 Special (Buy Game Tickets)

The Rams Club will have a membership tent at Chapel Thrill, where fans can stop by to learn more about supporting Carolina student-athletes. Rams Club members can also pick up gameday giveaways and stickers, while supplies last.

Old Well Walk
The Old Well Walk will return this season. Approximately two-and-a-half hours before kickoff, the football team will walk from the Old Well through Polk Place and around the Bell Tower to the stadium, allowing fans enjoying Chapel Thrill Game Day to cheer them on as they prepare for the game.

New Videoboards and Sound System
One of the most significant upgrades to Kenan Stadium for the 2026 season are two new Daktronics videoboards on the east and west end of the stadium. The new displays measure 31.5 feet high by 106.5 feet wide, featuring eight-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver crisp, clear imagery with wide-angle visibility to appeal to fans in every seat of Kenan Stadium.

Additionally, nine LED ribbon boards have been installed around the full seating bowl of the stadium to give fans an upgraded experience with statistics, out-of-town scores and other gameday content rotating on the displays.

The sound system at Kenan Stadium has also been replaced with state-of-the-art speakers to deliver enhanced vocal clarity and wide coverage throughout the stadium.

Kenan100
Carolina football will celebrate Kenan Stadium's 100th season in a variety of ways throughout the fall.

Throwback Jerseys
The 2026 season will feature the debut of a throwback uniform from the 1980 ACC championship season. The first game that the Tar Heels will don these uniforms will be announced at a later date. These jerseys, as well as other throwback UNC merchandise, will be available for sale in-venue and online.

Honored Numbers
A new way for Carolina football to properly honor legends of Kenan Stadium will be unveiled later in the 2026 season. A new, permanent display of Tar Heels inducted into either the College Football Hall of Fame or Pro Football Hall of Fame will have their jersey numbers unveiled during a special celebration during a 2026 home game.

Lee Pace features on Kenan Stadium
For each of the six home game weeks at Kenan Stadium in 2026, long-time UNC football writer Lee Pace will look back at historical moments of the stadium or program with a feature on GoHeels.com and UNC football social channels.

Fan Photo Submissions
Carolina Athletics wants you to submit your favorite photos from the last 100 years in Kenan Stadium. The photos will be shown on the Kenan Stadium videoboards throughout all six 2026 home games. Submit your photos HERE.

Other features and logo placements will occur throughout the year including on stadium merchandise, concessions cups, memorabilia, giveaways, videoboard features and more.

Kenan SkyBox
The Kenan SkyBox is the ultimate add-on for your game day experience. Located on the 5th Floor of the Kenan Football Center, the SkyBox is a free-flowing space with a great view of the field. It includes complimentary food and beverage options, including beer, wine and seltzers, as well as access to a full bar where additional beverages can be purchased separately.

The Kenan SkyBox experience is an add-on available to all ticket holders. To learn more about this experience, click HERE.

Full Service Tailgating
Reserve premier tailgating services for the ultimate Tar Heels gameday. Whether you want to be in the heart of the action under the Bell Tower, away from the hustle and bustle on the amphitheater, or host a larger group at private locations, REVELxp can make it happen.

To learn more about full service tailgating and to book your experience, visit HERE or email unc@revelxp.com.

New Season, New Flavors at Kenan Stadium
Football is back at Kenan Stadium—and so are some of your gameday favorites!

Fans can tackle several exciting new offerings:

Carolina Beef Brisket Sandwiches at all Best Blue BBQ stands—Sections 102, 110, 121, and 129
UNC Dot Cakes at Stadium Scoops—Section 103
Walkin' Tacos at Modelo Crunch Cantina—Sections 109 and 122
Burgers, draft beer, and Prosecco at SZZL Grill near Gate 6—Section 127

While visiting SZZL Grill, grab a Lumi Aluminum Walkin' Rameses Souvenir Cup!

Returning Gameday Favorites
Back in this season's starting lineup: Merritt's famous BLTs return to Merritt's Pines near Gate 2, Section 109 and more:

Alpaca Peruvian Chicken—Section 119
Chick-fil-A—Sections 101, 109, 115, and 130
Domino's Pizza—Sections 104, 111, 115, 124, and 130
Dirty Sodas at Stadium Scoops—Section 103
Ty's Funnel Cakes & Deep-Fried Treats—Sections 102 and 124

Celebrate 100 Years of Kenan Stadium
Fans can commemorate a century of Carolina football in Kenan with a limited-edition Kenan Stadium 100th season souvenir cup, available at select concession stands while supplies last.

Check out the concessions section of the Gameday Guide for more information on food and drink offerings and locations.

First Game Fan Certificates
Are you or someone from your party attending their first game in Kenan Stadium? Stop by a fan services location at Gates 2 and 6 to pick up a first game certificate and button.

Videoboard Messages
Want to share a birthday, anniversary or other special message at a Carolina football game? Fill out this form to get your special message displayed on the videoboard at any home UNC Athletics event this season.

Entry Information
Kenan Stadium gates will continue to open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Gate 5 will once again be used as a UNC student-only entrance. The general public is asked to enter Kenan via any other entrance, including Gates 1, 2, 3 and 6.

Carolina Athletics will continue to partner with Evolv, the official fan screening partner of Carolina Athletics, to enhance fan security. Evolv Technology provides advanced entry screening while helping to minimize congestion and disruptions to traffic flow at entry points.

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