Upcoming Hawaii Bowl 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.
When and where the Hawaii Bowl is played
The Hawaii Bowl is played on or near Christmas Eve in Honolulu. The 2026 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is scheduled for Thursday, December 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. Hawaii time (7 p.m. Eastern) on ESPN, at the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. It is part of a Christmas Eve bowl doubleheader with the New Mexico Bowl.
ESPN Events operates the game, which has been played since 2002. Conference affiliations for 2026 had not been announced as of the June schedule release. In recent seasons the bowl has drawn from the Mountain West and the American Athletic Conference, and earlier from Conference USA. The most important rule for buyers is the home-team provision: Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors receive the bid when they are bowl-eligible and not selected for the College Football Playoff. Tie-ins and that arrangement can change, so check the matchup announcement in early December.
Hawaii Bowl vs. the Aloha Bowl
The two names are often confused, but they are different games. The Aloha Bowl was played from 1982 to 2000 at Aloha Stadium, mostly under Jeep sponsorship, and featured Pac-10 teams more than any other conference. In 1998 and 1999 it formed a doubleheader with the Oahu Bowl, which was the first televised doubleheader in college football. After the Jeep sponsorship ended following the DaimlerChrysler merger, the game was set to move to San Francisco but lost its bowl certification before the move happened.
The Hawaii Bowl is a separate, newer game. A new bowl committee won certification for a Christmastime game in 2002 and played it at Aloha Stadium, so the Hawaii Bowl took over the Aloha Bowl's place on the calendar and in the old stadium, but not its history or its records. If you are searching for Aloha Bowl tickets, the game you can attend today is the Hawaii Bowl.
The Ching Complex and where to sit
The Hawaii Bowl moved from Aloha Stadium to the Ching Complex in 2022 while the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District is built, and 2026 is its fifth straight year there. The Ching Complex opened in 2015 as a smaller campus venue; for football it held about 9,000 in 2021, then grew to 15,194 for 2023 with expanded sideline stands, end zone seating and filled-in corners. Standing room can push it to about 16,000.
- Sideline grandstands are the seats to target. The stadium is compact, so even upper rows on the sidelines are close to play, and the expanded sideline stands hold the hospitality areas.
- End zone and corner seats were added in the expansion and are the fallback when sidelines sell through. They work for a fan who wants to be in the crowd more than for one who wants to study the game.
- Band seating: for 2025, the visiting band sat in the Diamond Head (east) end zone on the makai (ocean) side and the Mountain West band on the mauka (mountain) side, a useful clue for where each school's fans gather.
The venue is open air with little cover, and a 2 p.m. kickoff means hours of afternoon sun. Bring sunscreen and a hat; umbrellas are on the University of Hawaii prohibited-items list for football.
How demand works at a 15,000-seat bowl
Capacity is the whole story. At Aloha Stadium the bowl's record crowd was 43,673 in 2010. At the Ching Complex, attendance has ranged from 6,605 in 2022 to 15,194 in 2025, when Hawaii beat California 35–31 and filled the stadium. When the Rainbow Warriors play, local demand alone can exhaust the inventory, so the resale market tightens quickly after the announcement. When two mainland teams meet, the crowd has been far smaller and seats are much easier to find close to game day.
Travel is the other factor. Fans of mainland schools face a long, expensive holiday-week flight, which limits how many make the trip. A school with a large alumni base in Hawaii or on the West Coast changes that math. Every GoodSeats order includes free shipping.
History and notable games
- First game: Tulane beat Hawaii 36–28 on December 25, 2002, before 35,513 at Aloha Stadium.
- A shootout: Hawaii 54, Houston 48 in triple overtime in 2003, 102 combined points.
- A first: Notre Dame beat Hawaii 49–21 in 2008, the first independent team to play in the game.
- A record-setter: South Florida beat San Jose State 41–39 in five overtimes in 2024, an FBS bowl record at the time.
- The home team: Hawaii has the most appearances, 10, with a 6–4 record, including the 2025 win over California.
- Cancellations: the 2020 game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 game was canceled after Hawaii withdrew.
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Hawaii held the title sponsorship from 2003 to 2013 and returned in 2025. Other sponsors have included ConAgra Foods (2002), SoFi (2018–2019) and EasyPost (2021–2023).
Parking, transit and entry
The Ching Complex sits on the lower campus of UH Manoa, and campus parking is limited, so transit is worth considering. Based on the bowl's 2025 gameday guidance:
- Gates opened two hours before kickoff, with 10 entry gates, all ADA accessible, and re-entry at designated gates.
- Parking in the campus structure opened three hours before kickoff, card payment only, entered from the Dole Street or Waialae gates.
- No tailgating: tailgating and alcohol were not permitted in parking areas.
- Transit: TheBus ran enhanced U-line service every 15 minutes before the game between the Ahua Lagoon Drive Skyline rail station and UH Manoa, with return trips afterward.
- Bags: one clear bag per person, no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
Rules can change from year to year, so check the Hawaii Bowl gameday page before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Hawaii Bowl?
The 2026 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl is scheduled for Thursday, December 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. Hawaii time (7 p.m. Eastern) on ESPN.
Where is the Hawaii Bowl played now?
At the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus in Honolulu. The game moved there from Aloha Stadium in 2022 while a new stadium district is built.
Is the Hawaii Bowl the same as the Aloha Bowl?
No. The Aloha Bowl was a separate game played at Aloha Stadium from 1982 to 2000. The Hawaii Bowl was certified as a new game in 2002 and has its own history.
Does Hawaii play in the Hawaii Bowl?
The Rainbow Warriors receive the bid when they are bowl-eligible and not in the College Football Playoff. They have played in the game 10 times, most recently beating California in 2025.
Can you tailgate at the Hawaii Bowl?
No. Recent bowl and university guidance prohibits tailgating and alcohol in campus parking areas. Check the current gameday rules before you go.
How big is the Hawaii Bowl stadium?
The Ching Complex seats about 15,000 for football, or roughly 16,000 with standing room, which makes it one of the smallest bowl venues.