BraveNation ready to celebrate at UNCP Homecoming

UNC Pembroke will bring BraveNation together Oct. 21-24 for its 2026 Homecoming, with four days of campus traditions, alumni reunions, live entertainment and and Braves athletics culminating in Saturday’s football game and a concert featuring Waka Flocka Flame.

From the annual Homecoming Parade and Beats & Eats to the Golden Braves reunion, alumni awards and NPHC Step Show, the celebration will offer opportunities for students, alumni and the surrounding community to reconnect with UNCP and one another.

“Homecoming is one of those special times when you see every part of BraveNation community together,” said Dr. Rebekah Lowry, director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving. “Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or returning after many years, we want everyone to feel that sense of connection and know they are part of this community.”

Students will kick off Homecoming on Wednesday, Oct. 21, with a pep rally from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the Chavis Student Center lawn. The event will feature performances and appearances by the Spirit of the Carolinas Marching Band, Spirit Squad, SGA president, Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, football head coach and team and members of the 1887 Society.

That evening, students can continue the celebration at the PAC Countdown from 10 p.m. to midnight in the English E. Jones Center main gym.

Homecoming festivities expand into the community Thursday, Oct. 22, beginning with the annual Homecoming Parade through the town of Pembroke at 4 p.m. Student organizations, local businesses, bands and alumni groups will be among those participating.

Following the parade, Beats & Eats will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the Student Center lawn. The free community celebration will feature food trucks, music and opportunities for students, alumni and community members to gather.

Thursday concludes with Moonlight Madness at the Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The annual event marks the official tipoff to the men's and women's basketball seasons with player introductions, on-court action, contests and giveaways.

Friday, Oct. 23, turns the spotlight to UNCP alumni and their contributions to BraveNation.

The Golden Braves Society Luncheon & Ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. in James A. Thomas Hall, honoring the Class of 1976 and earlier. Members of the Class of 1976, celebrating their 50th reunion, will be formally inducted into the Golden Braves Society and receive commemorative lapel pins.

The 58th Annual Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Annex, recognizing distinguished alumni for professional achievement, service and leadership alongside athletes, coaches, administrators and teams whose contributions have helped shape UNCP Athletics. Tickets for the Alumni Awards & Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony will be available through the Givens Performing Arts Center.

Also Friday, UNCP’s National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities will take the GPAC stage for the annual NPHC Homecoming Step Show, a celebration of culture, tradition and competition. The show begins at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available through GPAC.

Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 24, begins with tailgating at 10:30 a.m. in Jones Athletic Center Parking Lot No. 14. Tailgate spaces are $5 for alumni, the general public and visiting fans and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This year, the Alumni Association will be recognizing the class of 2001. Registration is required for reserved tailgate spaces.

The Braves will take on the Chowan University Hawks at 3 p.m. at Grace P. Johnson Stadium with alumni tents and student celebrations adding to the game-day atmosphere leading up to kickoff.

Homecoming weekend concludes at 8 p.m. with Waka Flocka Flame at GPAC. The four-time BET Hip Hop Award nominee is known for hits including the diamond-certified “No Hands,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a BET Hip Hop Award in 2011.

“We hope our alumni, families and friends will come home and be part of it,” Lowry said. “Homecoming gives generations of Braves a chance to reconnect with the people and traditions that shaped their UNCP experience while sharing that experience with the students who are part of BraveNation today.”

For a complete schedule of 2026 Homecoming events, registration and ticket information, visit uncp.edu/homecoming.