Gator Bowl 2026 in Jacksonville: Dec. 30 kickoff, parking

Last checked Oct. 20, 2026, against the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl’s home page, ticket page, parking page, transportation page, stadium policies, FAQ and game week page, and the Deck the Chairs stage schedule. This page is updated each year at the same address.

Yes, it is on. The 82nd TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026, at EverBank Stadium, according to the bowl. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster. The teams have not been named; the bowl’s ticket page seats SEC fans on the west side and ACC fans on the east side. We will add the matchup here when the bowl announces it.

Some of the bowl’s parking and game week pages still carry last year’s details. Where a fact is from the 2025 game, we say so.

At a glance

• Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, EverBank Stadium
• Matchup: SEC vs. ACC; the teams are not yet announced
• Pep rally: 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Deck the Chairs in Jacksonville Beach
• Tickets and parking: mobile only, through Ticketmaster
• Bowl ticket office: 904-798-1700, tickets@taxslayergatorbowl.com

Tickets

The bowl sells game tickets through Ticketmaster and says early buyers get the best price, before prices go up. It does not publish a price list on its own site. “All game tickets and parking will be mobile,” the ticket page says.

Children 24 months and older need a ticket. Children under 24 months do not, but must sit on a parent’s lap, the FAQ says.

Parking

From the bowl’s transportation page and parking page:

• Stadium lots: standard EverBank Stadium lot passes are $40, bought ahead through Ticketmaster. The parking page links a lot map.
• When lots open: last year the bowl said lots open five hours before kickoff and gates two hours before. For an 11:30 a.m. kickoff, that would be 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.; the bowl has not yet posted 2026 times.
• Buses: day-of bus parking is $100 through the bowl office, 904-798-1700.
• RVs: sold through Tailgaters Parking; the link on the bowl’s site was still for the 2025 game when we checked.

Shuttles, water taxi and rideshare

• Gameday Xpress: JTA shuttles from the Kings Avenue Parking Garage on the Southbank ($10 round trip) and the JTB Park-n-Ride at 7000 Philips Highway ($15 round trip). Passes are bought in the MyJTA app before game day; the shuttle is cashless. The bowl’s listed start time was for last year’s evening game.
• Skyway: JTA’s free Skyway runs 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, the bowl’s page says, so it should run on a Wednesday game day. Kings Avenue Station has a covered walkway to the Kings Avenue Parking Garage. Check JTA for holiday-week hours.
• St. Johns River Taxi: a $20 round-trip special event fare between Riverfront Plaza, the Southbank dock east of the Chart House and the stadium dock, about a five-minute walk from the stadium.
• Rideshare: pick-up is on Beaver Street near Lot Z. Leave by Gate 1 or the Gallagher West Club Gate; follow the pink rideshare signs.

Downtown road work and closures are on our road construction and closures page, and street parking downtown is covered in our downtown Jacksonville guide.

Bag policy and stadium rules

From the bowl’s stadium policies:

• Clear bags only: a clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a clutch or wallet up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. “All other bags are strictly prohibited.”
• Not allowed: coolers, outside drinks (except one factory-sealed water bottle of 16.9 ounces or less), umbrellas, seat cushions, strollers, signs larger than 2 by 3 feet, drones and pets other than service animals.
• Cashless: no cash is taken anywhere in the stadium. Guest Services booths at Sections 102, 123, 144, 410 and 436 turn cash into a card.
• No re-entry once you leave the gates.

Game week

The bowl has not posted its 2026 game week schedule. Last year, according to its game week page, the teams held free pep rallies at the Seawalk Pavilion during Deck the Chairs, the bowl held a free tailgate on the Flex Field at EverBank Stadium before the game, and a New Year’s Eve 5K benefiting Gator Bowl Charities started at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

For 2026, the Deck the Chairs stage schedule already lists the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Pep Rally, 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. See our Deck the Chairs page.

Last year’s game

The 81st TaxSlayer Gator Bowl matched Virginia and Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, the bowl’s FAQ says. This year’s game moves to a late-morning kickoff on a weekday.

What this means for you

• Kickoff is 11:30 a.m. on a weekday, Wednesday, Dec. 30, not the usual Saturday night.
• Buy tickets and a parking pass ahead; both are mobile only, and the stadium takes no cash.
• The bowl has not announced the teams yet; check back here.

The next night is New Year’s Eve: the city’s fireworks and road closures are on our New Year’s Eve page. More: holiday lights and Christmas events and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Gator Bowl in 2026?

The 82nd TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026, at EverBank Stadium, according to the bowl’s website.

Who is playing in the 2026 Gator Bowl?

The teams have not been named. The bowl’s ticket page seats SEC fans on the west side and ACC fans on the east side. Last year’s game, on Dec. 27, 2025, matched Virginia and Missouri.

How much is parking for the Gator Bowl?

The bowl’s transportation page lists standard EverBank Stadium lot passes at $40, sold through Ticketmaster, and day-of bus parking at $100 through the bowl office at 904-798-1700. All tickets and parking passes are mobile.

What bags can I take into the Gator Bowl?

EverBank Stadium is a clear bag stadium. The bowl allows a clear bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. The stadium is cashless.

Do children need a ticket for the Gator Bowl?

Children 24 months and older need a ticket. Children under 24 months do not, but must sit on a parent’s lap, the bowl’s FAQ says.