The Atlantic Coast Conference has unveiled the kickoff times and broadcast partners for a select slate of marquee matchups that will define the 2026 football season, a schedule that blends domestic powerhouses with unprecedented overseas venues.
International Beginnings
Two of the conference’s flagship programs will open the campaign on opposite sides of the Atlantic, with North Carolina meeting TCU in Dublin and NC State taking on Virginia in Rio de Janeiro, both slated for August 29, 2026.
A Packed Labor Day Weekend
The ACC will stage 14 contests across 12 games during the Labor Day weekend, marking the most concentrated slate of conference action in recent memory.
Championship Weekend
The conference championship game is set for December 5, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the league’s top two teams will clash before a home crowd.
A Challenging Non‑Conference Slate
Week 1 of the season sees the ACC at the forefront of Power Four non‑conference scheduling, featuring eight Friday night games in the opening six weeks, underscoring the league’s ambition to test its teams against a diverse array of opponents.
Beyond the Gridiron
Commissioner Jim Phillips highlighted the international component as a strategic move to expand the conference’s footprint, noting that the ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, reflecting a broad commitment to collegiate athletics.