Six-day celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with music, step shows, band competitions, job fairs and football games.
One Philly HBCU Week runs from Monday, October 26 through Saturday, October 31, 2026, with the main events held at Lincoln Financial Field. It's the city's weeklong celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, put on by the City of Philadelphia in partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles and a group of community partners. The whole thing blends music, faith, career opportunities, Greek life and athletics, and it spreads across a few different spots: the football games are at the Linc, and other events happen at the Community College of Philadelphia, West Philadelphia High School and the Church of Christian Compassion.
The football double bill is the anchor. On Friday, October 30, Lincoln University takes on Virginia Union University from 7 to 10 PM, with a halftime show by Ludacris. On Saturday, October 31, Delaware State University plays Norfolk State University from 3 to 5:30 PM. Norfolk State and Lincoln serve as the home teams. The Saturday game is a rematch of last year's "Battle of the Legends," which brought in 47,266 fans, and it brings Eagles legends DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick back to the field they once shared as teammates—this time as head coaches of the opposing sides.
Beyond the games, the week fills in with a mix of community and competition. There's a Clergy Appreciation Event, a Battle of the Bands, a College Choir Competition, a College and Job Fair, and a College and Alumni Step Show. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who announced the schedule, described the week as being about "celebrating the excellence, history and traditions of our HBCUs while creating opportunities for the next generation," and invited people from across the country to join in.
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If you're planning to go, keep in mind the events are spread out. The football games are at Lincoln Financial Field, 1 Lincoln Financial Way, with the other programming happening at the Community College of Philadelphia, West Philadelphia High School and the Church of Christian Compassion. The games run Friday, October 30 from 7 to 10 PM and Saturday, October 31 from 3 to 5:30 PM.
