CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference football season will officially start the 2026 season in the Queen City. The 2026 ACC Football Kickoff will return to Charlotte, North Carolina, July 15-17, bringing all 17 ACC football programs to the league’s home city at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown.
Over three days, the ACC Football Kickoff will serve as the league’s premier preseason event, featuring head coaches and student-athletes from across the conference. ACC Network will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the event, including live interviews, press conferences and exclusive behind-the-scenes access as the countdown to kickoff begins.
Details regarding credentials, media schedules, participating student-athletes and additional logistics will be announced at a later date.
2026 ACC Football Kickoff
Wednesday, July 15
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D.
Florida State
Miami
NC State
Stanford
Virginia
Thursday, July 16
Boston College
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Syracuse
Virginia Tech
Friday, July 17
California
Duke
North Carolina
Pitt
SMU
Wake Forest
Looking Ahead to 2026
The ACC announced its full 2026 football schedule during a two-hour ACC Huddle: 2026 Football Schedule Release special on Monday, January 26, on ACC Network. The first hour of the special was simulcast on ESPN2. (Watch)
In transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule, 12 ACC programs will play nine league games and at least one Power Four non-conference opponent in 2026, while the five other ACC programs will play eight league games and at least two Power Four non-conference opponents.
In total, ACC teams are slated to play 25 non-conference games against Power Four opponents – including nine versus the SEC, five against the Big Ten, five against the Big 12, and six against Notre Dame – the most of any conference.
ACC Leading the Way in Postseason Play in 2025
The ACC went 9-5 in postseason play (College Football Playoff and Bowl Season) this year, recording the most postseason wins in a single year for the league overall, matching the nine wins from 2016. (ACC Postseason Schedule)
Building on a Strong 2025 Season
The ACC proved it was the deepest Power Four conference this season:
The ACC had the strongest non-conference strength of schedule among all Power Four conferences throughout the 2025 season:
The ACC was victorious in several high-profile games this year:
About The ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference, in its 73rd year and 18 members strong, stands as one of the most competitive and revered intercollegiate conferences in the nation. ACC members including Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are dedicated to upholding the league’s founding values of academic excellence, athletic competition at the highest level, and integrity. The ACC supports 28 NCAA sports, with 15 for women and 13 for men, and its member institutions span 12 states. In August 2019, the ACC and ESPN partnered to launch ACC Network (ACCN), a 24/7 national network exclusively devoted to ACC sports and original programming. For more information, visit theACC.com and follow the ACC on Instagram (@accsports), Twitter (@theACC) and Facebook (facebook.com/theACC).
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