UT Tyler Announces 2026 Homecoming

February 16, 2026 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler will celebrate 2026 Homecoming March 23 – 28. This year’s festivities will include a free community concert featuring “Red Dirt” country music artist Casey Donahew.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our community to campus and celebrating Homecoming with this special concert event,” said event co-organizer Ryan Poynter, UT Tyler Cowan Center executive director.

Rising singer/songwriter Kylie Frey will open the concert at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, on the UT Tyler Patriot Plaza.

Other UT Tyler 2026 Homecoming community events include a fireworks and drone show starting approximately 9 p.m. Friday, March 27, also on the Patriot Plaza, and the Patriot baseball tailgate with crawfish boil and barbecue 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at UT Tyler Parking Lot 14.

After over two decades of making music, one thing has never changed for Casey Donahew – it has always been and always will be about the song. The Lone Star native has carved out a sizable niche for himself simply just by doing what he does best and doing it with authenticity. That unwavering trait is what his fans respond to and come back for time and time again. His latest album, NEVER NOT LOVE YOU, is a 17-track project packed chock full of musical tales about cowboys, love, heartbreak and the eccentricities of life.

Kylie Frey is a modern-day troubadour with a bold, independent spirit that infuses her rich storytelling and traditional country style. The Louisiana native made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2023, was a semi-finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and was named a CMT Next Women of Country in 2024. With her newest music, including the EP Half A Mind, she continues to establish herself as an undeniably familiar, yet fresh voice in country music, poised for her biggest chapter yet.

For more details about 2026 Homecoming events, visit: uttyler.edu/homecoming/.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 11,500 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.