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Upcoming Army-Navy Game dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Army-Navy Game in brief
The Army–Navy Game is the annual football game between the United States Military Academy (Army, at West Point) and the United States Naval Academy (Navy, in Annapolis). The 2026 game is scheduled for Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on CBS. Since 2009 it has been played on the second Saturday of December, after conference championship weekend, so it stands alone on the schedule as the last regular-season game of major-college football.
The teams first met on November 29, 1890, when Navy won 24–0 at West Point. Through the 2025 game the two academies had played 126 times, and Navy led the series 64–55–7. The game is also the final leg of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, the three-way series among Army, Navy and Air Force that has been awarded since 1972. Although it is listed with the bowls here, it is a regular-season game; there are no conference tie-ins, only the two academies.
The March On and the traditions around the game
What sets this game apart is the crowd. Before kickoff, the entire Corps of Cadets (roughly 4,400 at West Point) and the Brigade of Midshipmen (about 4,500 at Annapolis) march onto the field in formation, a ceremony known as the March On. Each academy then fills a large block of the stands, standing and cheering for the whole game. If the March On is part of why you are going, plan to be in your seat well before kickoff.
- The prisoner exchange. Cadets and midshipmen spending a semester at the rival academy are formally returned to their home school before the game.
- The anthem. The academies' own choirs sing the national anthem rather than a recording artist.
- The goat. Navy adopted its mascot, a goat named Bill, after beating Army in the first game in 1890; the line of goats has been kept at a Maryland farm since 1913.
- Singing second. After the final whistle, both teams stand together for each school's alma mater. The loser's song is sung first and the winner's last, so "singing second" is shorthand for winning.
Sitting presidents have attended the game ten times since 1901, starting with Theodore Roosevelt; a presidential visit brings heavier security screening and longer entry lines.
How the host site rotates
The game has no permanent home. Philadelphia is its traditional host and had staged 90 of the 124 games through 2023, at Franklin Field, John F. Kennedy Stadium, Veterans Stadium and, since 2003, Lincoln Financial Field. In recent decades the game has also moved among other East Coast NFL stadiums, including sites in the New York area, Foxborough, Landover and Baltimore.
- 2025: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (Navy won 17–16).
- 2026: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on December 12.
- 2027: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, on December 11.
Sites are set years in advance, but they can change, so confirm the venue before booking travel. The rotation matters for tickets: a game near Washington or Philadelphia draws heavily from the military community in those regions, while a New York-area game adds a large local audience.
Where to sit at MetLife Stadium in 2026
MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL's Giants and Jets, seats about 82,500 and has no roof, so a mid-December afternoon in New Jersey means cold weather and possible wind, rain or snow. The seating bowl has three main tiers: the 100 level (sections 101–149, the lower bowl), the 200 mezzanine with its club sections, and the 300 upper level.
- Lower-level sideline seats give the best view of both the game and the March On, which fills the field before kickoff.
- Middle rows of the lower bowl often see more of the field than the first rows, which sit low behind the team benches and sideline personnel.
- Seats facing the cadet and midshipman blocks give the best view of the academies' stands, which are a large part of the spectacle.
- Mezzanine club seats add indoor club lounges, valuable on a cold December afternoon.
- Upper-level end zone seats are the budget choice and the most exposed to wind.
Dress in layers regardless of where you sit, and bring gloves and a hat; with a 3 p.m. kickoff in mid-December, the game ends after dark.
How tickets for the game are sold
The academies sell tickets to the game through their own athletic departments, Army through its game-day ticket site and Navy through the Navy athletics site, with priority typically going to alumni, donors and season-ticket holders. Large blocks of seats are reserved for the Corps of Cadets and the Brigade of Midshipmen, which reduces the number of seats available to the public compared with an NFL game in the same stadium.
Demand is steady from year to year because the game does not depend on records or rankings. The factors that move resale prices are the host city, whether the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is on the line, and whether a sitting president is expected. Lower-level sideline seats draw the most demand, and upper-level seats are the most plentiful. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Getting to MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium is in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
- NJ Transit rail: Take a train to Secaucus Junction and transfer to the shuttle train to the Meadowlands Rail Station beside the stadium. Event rail tickets are sold in the NJ Transit app.
- Bus: Coach USA runs the 351 Meadowlands Express from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
- Driving: Parking is in stadium lots, and traffic out of the complex is slow after big events.
As of the 2025 NFL season, MetLife Stadium enforced a clear-bag policy: clear bags no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a small clutch about 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Check the official Army-Navy Game site and the stadium's current policy before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the 2026 Army-Navy Game?
Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on CBS.
Where is the 2027 Army-Navy Game?
The 2027 game is scheduled for December 11 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the rivalry's traditional home city.
What is the March On?
Before kickoff, the full Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen march onto the field in formation. Arrive early if you want to see it from your seat.
Who leads the Army-Navy series?
Navy led the series 64–55–7 through the 2025 game, which Navy won 17–16 in Baltimore.
Why is the game played in mid-December?
Since 2009 it has been held on the second Saturday of December, after conference championship weekend, so it has the national stage to itself.
Does MetLife Stadium have a roof?
No. MetLife Stadium is open air, so plan for cold December weather and dress in layers.