Each winter, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl turns Memphis into a college football hotspot, blending decades of tradition with a lively bowl week feel on and off the field. Since 1959, this seventh-oldest bowl has welcomed power-conference programs to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, with SEC, Big 12, and American Athletic Conference teams squaring off for postseason bragging rights. Fans roll into town for the Beale Street parade, pep rallies, and pregame parties before packing the stands in a sea of school colors. If you want to be part of that scene, Liberty Bowl tickets from Event Tickets Center put you inside one of college football’s most tradition-rich postseason showcases.
Looking ahead to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl 2026, the Navy Midshipmen and Cincinnati Bearcats bring a marquee matchup to Memphis. The 67th edition of the Liberty Bowl game kicks off Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Central at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, matching Navy from the American Athletic Conference against Cincinnati out of the Big 12. Though the bowl is not part of the College Football Playoff rotation, it reliably delivers intense postseason football and breakout performances that help launch the next wave of college stars.
The 67th AutoZone Liberty Bowl is set for Friday, January 2, 2026, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Central in Memphis. Bowl week also features the Beale Street Parade and Bash on Beale pep rally downtown on Thursday, January 1, giving fans a full day of marching bands, cheer squads, and a pregame atmosphere before the teams take the field. Check the latest Liberty Bowl schedule before you travel so you can time your arrival, tailgate, and stadium entry around these events.
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, known to fans as the Liberty Bowl Stadium, anchors the Liberty Park complex in Memphis and has hosted the game since 1965. The open bowl design keeps fans close to the field, with capacity around 44,000 during renovations and more than 8,000 parking spaces spread around the property and Tiger Lane’s dedicated tailgate area. Review the seating map and stadium policies before game day so you know your sightlines and preferred route in.
When the bands hit Beale Street, the grills fire up along Tiger Lane, and the Navy and Cincinnati fan bases pour into the stands, you will want to be part of the scene instead of watching from home. Lock in your AutoZone Liberty Bowl tickets through Event Tickets Center and get ready for a Memphis bowl trip packed with pageantry, hard-fought football, and plenty of local flavor.