All Roads Lead to the Nest for The Ultimate Homecoming Experience 2026

Event tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 24

The music gets louder, the Nest comes alive and Eagle Pride takes over Durham as North Carolina Central University (NCCU) celebrates its most anticipated week of the year.

From Saturday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 10, NCCU will welcome students, alumni, families and fans from across the country for The Ultimate Homecoming Experience.

This year's line-up features some of the biggest names in the music industry, beginning with The Walls Group, Jonathan McReynolds and Pastor Mike Jr., at the gospel concert on Sunday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m., in McDougald-McLendon Arena.

On Thursday, Oct. 8, artists NoCap, Bunna B and BabyChiefDoit take over the arena for the hip-hop concert at 7 p.m.

And that is only part of the experience. Signature events include:

Saturday, Oct. 3

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Countdown, 10:30 p.m. to midnight, McDougald-McLendon Arena

Sunday, Oct. 4 

• *The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Gospel Concert, 5 p.m., McDougald-McLendon Arena, Tickets: Online - $35 | Door - $45

Monday, Oct. 5

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Coronation of Miss and Mister NCCU, 6-8 p.m., McDougald-McLendon Arena 

Tuesday, Oct. 6:

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience 10:40 Break, 10:40 a.m. - noon, Library Bowl 

Wednesday, Oct. 7

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Chicken Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., W.G. Pearson Dining Hall 

Thursday, Oct. 8

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Old School Greek Stroll-Off, 10:40 a.m. - noon, Library Bowl 
• *The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Hip-Hop Concert, 7 p.m., McDougald-McLendon Arena, Tickets: Online - $50 | Door - $60

Friday, Oct. 9

• 79th Annual Founder's Day Convocation and Class of 1976 Induction into the Society of Golden Eagles, 9 - 11 a.m., McDougald-McLendon Arena 
• Wreath Laying Ceremony, 11 a.m., James E. Shepard Administration Circle
• *Divine 9 Alumni, Friends and Family Tent Party, 1- 6 p.m., NCCU Practice Field
• *The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Step Show, 7-10:30 p.m., McDougald-McLendon Arena, Tickets: Online - $35 | Door - $45

Saturday, Oct. 10

• The Ultimate Homecoming Experience Parade, 8 a.m., on Fayetteville Street, between Elmira Avenue and E. Lawson Street
• The D9 Meet Up, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Library Bowl
• *NCCU Football vs. William & Mary, 1 p.m., O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, Tickets: Reserved Bleacher - $70 | General Admission - $60 | Lawn - $40
• The Ultimate Experience Student/Alumni Social, 4 - 6:30 p.m., Library Bowl

Tickets & Media Information 

• *Homecoming event tickets will go on sale on Monday, Aug. 24, at the NCCU Ticket Office or online at nccu.edu/homecoming.
• Media credential requests can be submitted here. 
• Artist photos can be viewed and downloaded here. 
• For a complete schedule of events, visit nccu.edu/homecoming.   

Campus Guidelines 

Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable homecoming experience. 

• Campus Closure: On Oct. 10, NCCU's campus will close to visitors by 7 p.m. All campus buildings will be closed to visitors that day, with security personnel monitoring entrances.
  
• Street closures:  On Oct. 10, the following street intersections will be closed to vehicular traffic:
  • Alston Avenue at Lawson St., and Alston Avenue at Cecil Street
  • Cecil Street at Lincoln Street and Cecil Street at Fayetteville Street
  • Fayetteville Street at Nelson Street and Fayetteville Street at Lawson Street.
  • Lawson Street at Merrick Street.
  • Lincoln Street at Lawson Street and Lincoln Street at Dupree Street.
    
• Tailgating ends at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, except in designated RV lots.
  
• Parking and Transportation:
  • On-campus parking is available for all campus events and open to visitors, except on Saturday, Oct. 10. For events Oct. 3-8, guests may park in the Latham Parking Deck for $5 and in the ParkMobile spaces along Nelson Street at a rate of $2 per hour.
  • Free parking will be available in the Latham Parking Deck on Oct. 9 for the Founder's Day Convocation held at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
  • There will be no general visitor parking on campus on Oct. 10. Exceptions include:
    • RV areas for vehicles with valid NCCU passes.
    • Football season ticket holders with valid game-day parking passes.
    • ADA-accessible parking on the second level of the Latham Parking Deck, available for $25 on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes may be purchased at the deck kiosk. Use entrance location at 1757 Lincoln St.
    • Limited first-come, first-served parking on Eagle Campus Drive for NCCU Society of Golden Eagles members.
  • Off-campus game-day (Oct. 10) parking will be available at:
    • Chapel Hill Street Parking Garage
    • Durham Centre Parking
    • Cocoran Street Garage
    • Durham Technical Community College
  • Shuttle service will operate between off-campus parking locations and NCCU 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. Shuttle passes are $5 and may be purchased by credit card from transportation representatives at each off-campus pickup location.
  • The campus shuttle pick-up and drop-off location will be the bus stop on the corner of Lawson Street and Alston Avenue/Highway 55. Final shuttle routes to off-campus parking locations will depart by 8 p.m.
  • Ride share pickup and drop-off locations will be at the bus stop near the corner of Concord and Lawson streets and the Burger King at the corner of Alston Avenue and Cecil Street.
  • External golf carts and motorcycles are not permitted on campus. 
    
• Event Entry & Security: Guests attending McDougald-McLendon Arena and O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium events will be screened by metal detectors. The clear bag policy will be in effect. Permissible bags must be clear and smaller than 12" x 12" x 6". Exceptions apply for medical and baby needs. Small clutches or wristlets (under 4.5" x 6.5" x 1") are allowed.  Large and medium-sized bags, including bookbags, will not be allowed into the Library Bowl for the student/alumni social on Oct. 10. All individuals in the Library Bowl must follow the clear bag policy.