The 2026 CIAA Football Championship returns to Durham on November 13-14 for a new championship weekend format. On Friday, November 13, the third and fourth ranked teams in the conference will face off in the Friday Night Blitz, as they look to strengthen their chances for an NCAA Playoff berth. On November 14, the top two teams in the conference will battle it out for the CIAA Championship. Check back in for more information on tickets, tailgating and who is expected to make the trip to Durham this November.
CIAA Football Championship Weekend Pass
For a limited time only, secure your tickets for the full CIAA Football Championship weekend for just $30 + taxes and fees.
Secure Your TicketsWeekend Schedule
Championship Weekend begins Friday, November 13, with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds facing off at 6:00 p.m. Gates open at 5:00 p.m., and the tailgate opens to the public at 3:00 p.m.
The excitement continues on Saturday, November 14, as the top two teams battle for the 2026 CIAA Football Championship title. Championship game kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m., with gates opening at 2:00 p.m. and the tailgate opening to the public at 10:00 a.m.
Durham County Memorial Stadium
Durham County Memorial Stadium is proud to host the 2026 CIAA Football Championship! Originally built in 1958 and renovated in 2010, the 8,500 seat historic stadium has been home to a multitude of competitions and championships throughout the years.
Address
750 Stadium Drive, Durham, NC 27704
Experience the Bull City
While you’re here, we invite you to explore our locally owned businesses, our award-winning dining scene and our rich history and culture.
The CIAA and Durham
Welcome to Durham — the Bull City, the City of Champions.
Durham is a central location for the CIAA, with seven of it’s member institutions in North Carolina and eleven within a four hour drive of Durham. Today, CIAA member institution Shaw University plays all of their home games at Durham County Memorial Stadium, which they have done since 2022.
North Carolina Central University, then North Carolina College at Durham, joined the CIAA in 1928, where they competed until 1970. After competing elsewhere from 1970-80, NCCU rejoined the CIAA up until when they moved to become a Division I school in 2010. During their time in the CIAA, NCCU won the CIAA Football Championship a total of eight times.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram.
About the Durham Sports Commission
The Durham Sports Commission is the proud host the CIAA Football Championship. The Durham Sports Commission is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events.
The vision of the DSC is to engage the Durham community in supporting and promoting the sports spirit that exists both historically and presently, by increasing the capacity of local sporting events to host events with strong participation rates, and by working with national event owners to recruit sporting events that provide positive community impact.
Follow us @durhamncsports on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and subscribe on YouTube!