When are the 2026 Holiday Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, and who's playing?
Both are at Snapdragon Stadium and on The CW: the returning SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl on Wed, Dec 23 at 4:30 p.m., and the 47th Holiday Bowl on Mon, Dec 28 at 2 p.m. Teams aren't set until after Selection Day, Dec 6.
- Poinsettia Bowl
- Wed, Dec 23, 4:30 p.m.
- Holiday Bowl
- Mon, Dec 28, 2 p.m.
- Stadium
- Snapdragon Stadium
- TV
- The CW
13th edition; first since 2016
47th annual
Clear-bag-only venue
Both games
The short version
- The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl returns Wednesday, Dec 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., its first game since 2016.
- The 47th Holiday Bowl kicks off Monday, Dec 28, 2026 at 2 p.m. Both games are at Snapdragon Stadium.
- The CW is broadcasting both games.
- Poinsettia: a Pac-12 team vs. the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12. Holiday: a former Pac-12 program vs. the ACC.
- The Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade is listed for 8 a.m. on Dec 28, and street-side viewing is free.
For the first time since 2016, San Diego hosts two college bowl games in one December. The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl is back after a decade away, and the Holiday Bowl returns to its usual late-December slot after last season's game moved to Jan 2. Both are at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley, and The CW has both.
| Event | Date | Time | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl | Wed, Dec 23, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | Tickets on Ticketmaster; prices not listed on official pages |
| Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade | Mon, Dec 28, 2026 | 8 a.m. | Downtown bayfront streets | Street-side viewing free; grandstand seats not yet on sale |
| 47th Holiday Bowl | Mon, Dec 28, 2026 | 2 p.m. | Snapdragon Stadium | Tickets on Ticketmaster; prices not listed on official pages |
SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl
- Date
- Wed, Dec 23, 2026
- Time
- 4:30 p.m.
- Where
- Snapdragon Stadium
- Cost
- Tickets on Ticketmaster; prices not listed on official pages
Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade
- Date
- Mon, Dec 28, 2026
- Time
- 8 a.m.
- Where
- Downtown bayfront streets
- Cost
- Street-side viewing free; grandstand seats not yet on sale
47th Holiday Bowl
- Date
- Mon, Dec 28, 2026
- Time
- 2 p.m.
- Where
- Snapdragon Stadium
- Cost
- Tickets on Ticketmaster; prices not listed on official pages
From HolidayBowl.com, Snapdragon Stadium's event pages and the bowl's Aug 27, 2026 announcement. Checked Oct 29, 2026.
Who plays?
Not decided yet. Bowl matchups follow the College Football Playoff bracket, and Selection Day is Sunday, Dec 6, 2026, according to Sports Illustrated. Last season, the Holiday Bowl matchup (Arizona vs. SMU) was reported on Dec 7. Each game picks from conference pools:
The 2026 tie-ins
| Poinsettia Bowl | Holiday Bowl | |
|---|---|---|
| Team 1 | A Pac-12 team | A former Pac-12 program |
| Team 2 | An ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 team | An ACC team |
| Last played | 2016: BYU 24, Wyoming 21 | Jan 2, 2026: SMU 24, Arizona 19 |
Poinsettia Bowl
- Team 1
- A Pac-12 team
- Team 2
- An ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 team
- Last played
- 2016: BYU 24, Wyoming 21
Holiday Bowl
- Team 1
- A former Pac-12 program
- Team 2
- An ACC team
- Last played
- Jan 2, 2026: SMU 24, Arizona 19
Tickets
Both games are on sale through Ticketmaster, linked from HolidayBowl.com and Snapdragon Stadium's event pages. The bowl's announcement said annual Holiday Bowl ticket holders got first access to Poinsettia seats, then SDCCU members, with the public sale starting in September. Neither official page lists face-value prices, so compare carefully before buying on resale sites. Ticket questions: 619-283-5808 x303.
The parade, the morning of the game
HolidayBowl.com lists the Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade for 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec 28, 2026, kicked off by a 5K run/walk along the harbor front. It bills itself as "America's Largest Balloon Parade." The only route map posted is from 2023, and the site says grandstand tickets go on sale once the date is announced, so check back for the final route. Street-side viewing is free.
Getting to Snapdragon
The Green Line trolley stops at Stadium Station, right at the stadium (see taking the trolley to Snapdragon). Parking there needs a pre-purchased pass. Mission Valley traffic builds before big events, so read how to dodge game-day traffic.
Looking for more to do that week? See the big free holiday events in December 2026.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 29, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryHolidayBowl.com home page
Holiday Bowl / Sports San Diego · checked 2026-10-29
Dec 28, 2026, 2 p.m., Snapdragon; ACC and former Pac-12 pools; The CW.
Coca-Cola Bowl Season · 2026-08-27
Dec 23, 4:30 p.m.; Pac-12 vs. ACC/Big Ten/Big 12; ticket presale order; 619-283-5808 x303.
Times of San Diego · 2026-08-27
SDSU's Pac-12 path, past SDSU Poinsettia games, 2016 result, Holiday Bowl tie-in.
Snapdragon Stadium · checked 2026-10-29
23 Dec 2026, 4:30 p.m.; clear-bag policy.
Snapdragon Stadium · checked 2026-10-29
28 Dec 2026, 2 p.m.; bag size limits; lockers.
Holiday Bowl · checked 2026-10-29
8 a.m., Monday, Dec 28, 2026; free street-side viewing; grandstands not yet on sale; 2023 route map.
Sports Illustrated · checked 2026-10-29
Selection Day is Sunday, Dec 6.
- Background2026 Holiday Bowl
Wikipedia · checked 2026-10-29
Jan 2, 2026 game: SMU 24, Arizona 19; matchup reported Dec 7, 2025 (Tucson.com).