Few postseason games blend sunshine, skyline views, and big-game stakes quite like the Holiday Bowl, San Diego’s signature college football showcase. Since 1978, this matchup has welcomed high-powered offenses and loud traveling fan bases to America’s Finest City, building a reputation for explosive, high-scoring finishes. Band performances, fan fests, and a laid-back coastal setting turn every trip into a mini winter vacation with a game at the center. Secure your Holiday Bowl tickets now at Event Tickets Center and claim your spot in the stands.
Holiday Bowl 2026 continues that tradition with the 46th annual Trust & Will Holiday Bowl, a Holiday Bowl game matching the Arizona Wildcats and SMU Mustangs in San Diego. The Wildcats arrive at 9-3 after a breakthrough Big 12 campaign and are chasing just the fifth 10-win season in program history, while the Mustangs enter at 8-4 as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s fastest-rising programs. With two confident offenses and plenty of momentum on both sidelines, this matchup sets up as four quarters of tempo, creativity, and postseason urgency.
If you are wondering when the Holiday Bowl is this season, the 46th edition kicks off Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with a scheduled start at 5 p.m. Bowl week in San Diego also brings a full Holiday Bowl schedule of events, including the bowl’s parade, fan rallies, and partner activations around the city, so it is worth arriving early to soak in the atmosphere before heading to the stadium for kickoff.
Fans wondering where the Holiday Bowl is will find it at Snapdragon Stadium, a modern 35,000-seat, open-air venue in San Diego’s Mission Valley district on the San Diego State University campus. Designed as a year-round entertainment hub, the stadium offers clear sightlines, upgraded concourses, and convenient access from major freeways and the San Diego Trolley, making game-day travel straightforward for locals and visitors. Beyond this bowl, Snapdragon Stadium hosts San Diego State football, professional soccer, and a growing slate of concerts and special events, making it well-equipped to handle big crowds and marquee matchups.
Between the coastal setting, holiday-week buzz, and a showdown between Arizona and SMU, this year’s Holiday Bowl has all the ingredients of a can’t-miss postseason trip. From pregame tailgates to the final whistle, you will be surrounded by school colors, marching bands, and fans chasing one more win to cap the season. Make your winter escape to San Diego and buy your Holiday Bowl tickets today at Event Tickets Center.