Cotton Bowl 2026: Schedule, Events, and Economic Impact

Cotton Bowl Festivities and Schedule

• 🏈 The Cotton Bowl Classic is set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, featuring a matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Miami Hurricanes.
• 🗓️ Festivities begin on New Year's Eve, with the Goodyear Huddle Up Fanfest starting at 3:30 PM (game ticket required).
• 🎶 DJ Diesel, also known as Shaquille O'Neal, will perform at 4:30 PM, followed by the Cotton Bowl Classic game at 6:30 PM.
• ✨ Postgame, attendees can enjoy drone and fireworks shows on the east side of the stadium.
• 🥳 Shaq will also ring in 2026 at Texas Live with a New Year's celebration.

Economic and Community Impact

• 💰 The Cotton Bowl brings an estimated $100 million in economic impact to North Texas.
• 🤝 The Cottonball Foundation has donated $365,000 to eight local nonprofits focused on youth and education this year alone.
• 📈 Since 2016, the foundation has provided nearly $4 million in grants.

Viewing and Traffic Expectations

• 📺 Last year's Cotton Bowl Classic set a record with 20.6 million viewers, and organizers hope to exceed that number this year.
• ⚠️ Drivers in the Arlington area should expect significant traffic due to the event.