Gillette Stadium to host Navy-Notre Dame football game in 2026

Another storied college football rivalry is headed to Gillette Stadium. The home of the Patriots will host the Navy-Notre Dame game on Oct. 31, 2026, marking the first time in the 99-game series history that it will be played in New England.

“We are thrilled to host the 2026 Navy-Notre Dame Game and welcome these two historic programs and their passionate fanbases to Gillette Stadium for the first time in this storied, century-long rivalry,” said Patriots owner Robert Kraft in a statement. “We are honored that Navy has chosen Gillette Stadium and our region as the host for the 99th playing of this game steeped in tradition.”

In 2023, Gillette Stadium hosted the 124th playing of the Army-Navy game, won by the Cadets, 17-11. Chet Gladchuk, the former Boston College athletic director now serving in the same role at Navy, said bringing the Navy-Notre Dame game to Gillette was a logical choice given the “extraordinary effort put forth by the Kraft Group, the New England Patriots and the entire New England area” in hosting last year’s Army-Navy game.

“The Boston area is a terrific place to visit in the fall and I have no doubt both Navy and Notre Dame fans will pack Gillette Stadium,” said Gladchuk.

The history of the Navy-Notre Dame game dates back to 1927. The series was the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in college football, played 93 consecutive years from 1927-2019, before COVID-19 canceled the 2020 game. The two teams recently squared off for the 97th playing of the game at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26, won by Notre Dame, 51-14.

“Massachusetts is the perfect host for the 2026 Navy-Notre Dame Game,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “This is where our nation and our military traditions started, and Gillette Stadium has a strong record of successfully hosting large events from the Army-Navy Game to the upcoming FIFA World Cup.”

Notre Dame leads the series 83-13-1 and has won seven in a row against the Midshipmen. Navy last defeated the Fighting Irish in 2016, 28-27, in Jacksonville, Fla. In addition to Dublin in 2023, Notre Dame and Navy have met all over the United States, including Notre Dame Stadium (38 games) Baltimore (23), Cleveland (11), Philadelphia (nine), New Jersey (eight), Maryland, (twice), San Diego, Orlando, and Jacksonville.

Additional details, including ticketing information, will be made available at a later date.