Rooted in tradition, united in purple

Images from Homecoming 2026

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Every year, JMU Dukes are invited to the annual Homecoming celebration. Dukes are welcomed back to where their Madison Experience began to reconnect with friends, relive favorite traditions, like throwing streamers, and making new memories across campus. This is a time to celebrate what it means to be a Duke and always return to a place that feels like home.

Three students in purple-and-white striped overalls stand beside a large purple painted rock on a sunny campus lawn, smiling and holding up paint-covered hands.

Homecoming week kicked off on Festival Lawn with Purple Out! where students painted Spirit Rock, enjoyed treats and grabbed Purple Out t-shirts.

Duke Dog rides in an open-top vehicle, waving while a cheerleading squad and marching band members follow down a street during a parade.

Homecoming weekend started with the Homecoming Parade on Friday as the Marching Royal Dukes, JMU Athletics, Diesel Duke, the Dancing Dukes, student organizations and alumni stepped their way through campus before concluding the celebration on the Quad.

Large crowd gathered outdoors on a tree-lined campus walkway, with many people in school colors and a marching band in the foreground.

The Homecoming celebration rolled on as students, alumni, families and friends packed the Quad for QuadFest, enjoying free food, games, giveaways and plenty of purple-and-gold pride.

Group of six students wearing crowns and sashes pose in front of a campus building during an outdoor event.

Congratulations to the 2026 Madison Majesties.
(left to right) Mya Coupe, Regan Lovell, Emma Rossman, Malachi Drumgole, Kaitlin Teale and Caitlin Deer

Crowd at a nighttime waving purple glow sticks while a drone light display forms a Duke dog in the sky.

QuadFest 2026 ended on a high note with 100 drones painting the night sky in a dazzling Homecoming spectacle. This was the first drone show at JMU!

Group of people posing under a purple pop-up canopy at a tailgate, some wearing James Madison Dukes gear.

A little morning rain couldn’t dampen our Dukes! Tailgaters were up bright and early, ready to celebrate Homecoming and cheer on the Dukes, rain or shine.

Two photos from a college tailgate: a group in purple and gold gathers around a white dog in a purple shirt, and a couple with purple face paint kneels with the same dog.

First Dog, Charlie Schmidt, enjoyed his first tailgate at JMU with fellow Dukes.

Two uniformed flight crew members wearing sunglasses stand on a football field, with a stadium crowd and marching band blurred in the background.

As the Marching Royal Dukes played the final notes of the national anthem, an F/A-18 fighter jet flew over Bridgeforth Stadium prior to kickoff. The team was led by Cmdr. Jim Cox ’05 (not pictured), a current member of the JMU Alumni Association and retired Blue Angel pilot. The jet was flown by Lt. Cmdr. Mark Dodson (pictured right), whose wife, Paige (’07), is a former president of the Student Duke Club. A third pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Sam Howell (pictured left), joined the team on the ground to coordinate the timing of the flyover. Howell’s wife taught JMU running back George Pettaway in high school.

Fans in purple cheer in the stadium stands, waving purple-and-gold pom-poms and holding a sign that reads “Some heros don’t wear capes; they wear purple.”.

Group of people pose with Duke Dog wearing a purple-and-white striped overalls on a football field, with stadium stands in the background.

JMU was honored to host the Governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger at JMU’s Homecoming football game. JMU Football remains undefeated as they beat Georgia State 49-22.

And that’s a 2026 Homecoming wrap, but please don’t wait so long to come back Home.

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