As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, Durham turns the page to what is sure to be an exciting winter of sports in the Bull City.
Read below to see all of the action-packed competition you won’t want to miss out on in Durham this winter.
NCCU Athletics
NCCU Men’s Basketball
NCCU men’s Basketball returns for the 2026–27 season under longtime head coach LeVelle Moton, the winningest coach in program history. The Eagles were selected to finish fourth in the MEAC preseason poll, with Ryan Archey and Maurice Vassel earning spots on the conference’s Preseason Watch List. The Eagles look to build on last season’s performance as they prepare for another competitive year in the MEAC.
The Eagles program has a strong history that includes winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1989. Since rejoining the MEAC in 2011, NCCU has made four NCAA Division I Tournament appearances, including three consecutive trips from 2017–2019.
The Eagles will open their season on November 2 against Georgia before returning to McDougald-McLendon Arena for their home opener against Virginia-Lynchburg on November 16.
Check out their full schedule here >
NCCU Women’s Basketball
NCCU Women’s Basketball enters the 2026–27 season under first-year head coach Olivia Gaines. The Eagles were selected to finish sixth in the MEAC preseason poll, while guards Victoria Morris and Eboni Clay earned recognition on the conference’s Preseason Watch List. The Eagles look to build on last season’s performance as they prepare for another year of MEAC competition.
The Eagles begin their season on November 2 against Virginia Tech before returning to McDougald-McLendon Arena for their home opener against Johnson C. Smith on November 4. The schedule also features a home rivalry matchup against North Carolina A&T on December 16.
NCCU Indoor Track and Field
The NCCU men’s and women’s Indoor Track & Field teams are coming off a 2025–26 season highlighted by strong performances at the MEAC Indoor Championships. The women’s team finished third for the second consecutive year, recording its highest point total of the Division I era, while the men’s team finished eighth.
The Eagles will look to build on these performances as they prepare for the upcoming indoor season.
Check back for more information on their 2026-2027 schedule.
While you’re cheering on NCCU athletics this fall, you will want to explore the campus and learn more about NCCU and its robust history. Check out all of the best places to explore, eat and drink with this Discover Durham guide to NCCU and Fayetteville Street.
Duke Athletics
Duke Men’s Basketball
After finishing the 2025–26 season with a 35–3 record and advancing to the Elite Eight, Duke Men’s Basketball enters the 2026–27 season ranked No. 2 nationally in the preseason AP Top 25 and first in the ACC preseason poll. The Blue Devils return under head coach Jon Scheyer, with John Blackwell and Patrick Ngongba II earning Preseason All-ACC First Team honors and newcomer Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje named ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year.
The Blue Devils open their regular season at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 2 against Army West Point. Fans can catch Duke in action throughout the winter as the program looks to build on another successful season.
Duke Women’s Basketball
Duke Women’s Basketball enters the 2026–27 season following its second consecutive Elite Eight appearance and an ACC Championship in 2025–26. The Blue Devils were selected to finish first in the ACC preseason poll, receiving 49 first-place votes. Junior forward Toby Fournier earned Preseason All-ACC honors, while freshmen Autumn Fleary and Bella Flemings were named to the Preseason All-Freshman Team.
Led by head coach Kara Lawson, Duke opens its season at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 3 against Green Bay. Fans can look forward to another competitive season of women’s basketball in Durham.
Duke Fencing
Duke Fencing enters the 2026–27 season following a successful year that saw the men’s team capture the 2026 ACC Championship and the women’s team finish as conference runners-up for the fifth consecutive year. The Blue Devils also earned national recognition, with the men’s team finishing sixth and the women’s team placing 11th at the NCAA Championships. Abdelrahman Tolba and Charlotte Koenig earned All-America honors for their performances.
Led by head coach Omar Elgeziry, the Blue Devils will host North Carolina on November 7 and the Beguinet Classic on February 6. Durham will also welcome the nation’s top collegiate fencers when Duke hosts the 2027 NCAA Fencing Championships at Cameron Indoor Stadium, March 25–28.
Duke Indoor Track & Field
Duke Indoor Track & Field returns for the 2026–27 season following an impressive performance at the 2026 ACC Indoor Championships. The women’s team finished second with 68 points, improving eight places from the previous year, while the men’s team placed ninth. The women’s 4×400-meter relay team captured gold with a championship meet record of 3:30.83, highlighting a strong showing that included five medals for the women’s program.
The Blue Devils will look to build on these accomplishments as they prepare for another season of indoor competition across the country. Fans can follow Duke’s performances throughout the winter as the teams compete at the conference and national levels.
Check back for more information on their 2026-2027 schedule.
Duke Swimming & Diving
Duke swimming and diving season is under way, as both the men’s and women’s teams will compete throughout the winter. You can catch both take on Northwestern on November 6-7 and Tennessee on January 29-30 at the Taishoff Aquatic Center. Both teams will look to push to make the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships in March.
Duke Wrestling
Duke Wrestling returns for the 2026–27 season under head coach Glen Lanham, with a schedule featuring seven home dates and six ACC duals. The Blue Devils will open their season with the Black and Blue Matches at Card Gymnasium on November 1 before beginning regular-season competition on November 7.
Fans can catch the Blue Devils competing in Durham throughout the winter, including home matchups against Northern Iowa on November 22, Gardner-Webb on December 18, Virginia Tech on January 22 and rival North Carolina on February 12. Duke will conclude its regular season on February 19 before heading to the ACC Championships in Pittsburgh, March 6–7.
When you’re supporting Duke Athletics this winter make the most of your game day experience by checking out some of the campus staples, like Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the Nasher Museum of Art and the Duke Basketball Museum and Hall of Fame. You can also grab a bite to eat at Dain’s Place or Cosmic Cantina, amongst the other numerous delicious restaurants in the Ninth Street area. If you’re looking for a place to stay near campus, look no further than the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, JB Duke Hotel or Lodge at Duke Medical Center.
Check out the Discover Durham Guide to Ninth Street and Duke University for more information on must-see spots on Duke’s campus, delicious spots to grab a bite, where to stay and more.
High School Athletics
Durham Public Schools have a total of six different schools competing across five different sports, which include basketball, indoor track and field, swimming and wrestling. The six schools — Hillside, Jordan, Northern, Southern, Durham School of the Arts and Riverside — compete in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), with winter sports competitions beginning in late October and November and postseason championships continuing into February and March.
In addition, Durham Academy and Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill compete in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA).
Make sure to get out and support our local high school athletes in Durham this winter! Visit the DPS athletic calendar and NCISAA athletic calendar to check out when they play in Durham.
DSC Events
In addition to all of the school athletics this winter, the DSC is excited to host the follwoing marquee events in the Bull City this winter.
CIAA Football Championship
The CIAA Football Championship returns to Durham County Memorial Stadium on November 13–14 with an expanded two-day format. The Friday Night Blitz kicks off November 13 at 6 p.m., featuring the conference’s third- and fourth-ranked teams. The top two teams will then compete for the CIAA Championship on November 14 at 3 p.m.
NCHSAA Men’s Soccer State Championships
For the first time, Durham County Memorial Stadium will host the NCHSAA Men’s Soccer State Championships from November 19–21. The three-day event will bring North Carolina’s top high school soccer teams to the Bull City to compete for state titles.
NCAA Fencing National Championship
The NCAA Fencing Championships return to Durham on March 25–28, 2027, at Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium. Hosted in partnership with Duke University and the Durham Sports Commission, the event will bring top collegiate fencers from across the country to compete for national titles in foil, épée and sabre.
Stay up to date with all sporting events in Durham by checking out our event calendar, following us @durhamncsports across all social platforms and subscribing to our email newsletter.