Badger spirit, on display

UW–Madison welcomed the return of Homecoming with a lineup of classic events and a whole lot of Badger spirit.

October 4, 2026

It would be hard to find a more perfect weekend for Badger fans to celebrate the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Homecoming. Red and white (and pink!) popped against the bright blue autumn skies as students and alumni turned out to showcase their Wisconsin pride. From window painting and dress-up days to classic events like Fill the Hill and the UW Homecoming Parade, the UW community showed exactly what it means to be a Badger.

Hundreds of bright pink plastic lawn flamingos dot the grassy slope of Bascom Hill, with Bascom Hall visible in the background under a clear blue sky. — A flock-tacular sea of flamingos landed on Bascom Hill on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 1-2. Each flamingo represents a Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association campaign donation received that day. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

UW–Madison mascot Bucky Badger sits on the grass among dozens of plastic pink lawn flamingos on Bascom Hill, raising his hands in celebration. — Meet the new dynamic duo: Badgers and pink flamingos. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

A couple crouches down on the lawn of Bascom Hill as they place a pink flamingo in the ground. — Participants plant a flamingo on Bascom Hill after making a donation to Fill the Hill. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

A young child tries a ring toss game over plastic pink lawn flamingos, guided by a volunteer in a pink vest. — Fill the Hill is for Badgers of all ages. Kaveri Mulcrone (center), a child of UW alumni visiting from Indianapolis, tries the flamingo ring toss game. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

The words Go Badgers are painted in white marker on the windows of a building along East Campus Mall. — “Go! Badgers” is written on a window on East Campus Mall on a rainy fall day during Homecoming Week. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–Madison

Six children wearing matching red outfits and red-and-white striped bib overalls sit together along the curb waiting for the UW Homecoming parade. — Ready, set, Homecoming! Badger fans of all ages gather along State Street awaiting the start of the UW Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 2. PHOTO: ALTHEA DOTZOUR / UW–MADISON

A group of six young women dressed in Wisconsin sweatshirts sit side-by-side along the sidewalk curb, smiling for the camera. — Ready, set, Homecoming! Badger fans of all ages gather along State Street awaiting the start of the UW Homecoming Parade on Friday, Oct. 2. PHOTO: ALTHEA DOTZOUR / UW–MADISON

Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots and his wife Peg Wilcots interact with the crowd from a red convertible during the UW Homecoming parade. — Eric Wilcots, interim chancellor, and Peg Wilcots wave to the crowd during the Homecoming Parade. The annual parade is one of many Homecoming Week activities co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and the Wisconsin Union. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

Students stand in a line one State Street holding a red banner that reads UW Homecoming Committee. — The UW Homecoming Committee marches down State Street, taking part in the parade that they helped organize. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A person in a red Wisconsin Badgers sweatshirt performs a backflip on a crowded street during a lively parade. Spectators watch and cheer, many dressed in red attire. The Wisconsin State Capitol building is visible in the background. — Members of the Wisconsin Gymnastics Club bring a whole new meaning to “Jump Around” as they make their way down State Street. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A group of dancers perform energetic jumps, each holding red and silver pom-poms, during a street parade lined with onlookers. — Members of UW Dance Elite take a big leap to energize the crowd along the parade route. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A man juggles brightly-lit juggling batons in front of mesmerized Badger fans during the UW Homecoming Parade. — A member of Mad Jugglers tosses glowing juggling pins for the benefit of some young parade-goers. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A young woman drives a hand-built race car down State Street. — The parade was all a blur for members of the Wisconsin Formula SAE racing team. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

The UW Marching Band, featuring sousaphones with red covers, performs down a packed State Street during the UW Homecoming parade with the Wisconsin State Capitol in the background. — It’s march madness in October as spirited sounds fill the air from the UW Marching Band. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison

The UW Spirit Squad raises their poms in the air during a musical number that is part of the Homecoming pep rally on the Memorial Union Terrace. — After the parade, the band, joined by members of the UW Spirit Squad, led fans from State Street to the Memorial Union Terrace for the Homecoming Block Party and Pep Rally. PHOTO: JAKE PIPER / UW–MADISON

Three people stand on a grassy area of The Memorial Union Terrace to play a game of corn hole. — It’s all fun and games at the UW Homecoming Block Party, presented by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. PHOTO: JAKE PIPER / UW–MADISON

A man watches his two children play a jumbo-sized brightly-lit electronic game of Four in a Row. — It’s all fun and games at the UW Homecoming Block Party, presented by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. PHOTO: JAKE PIPER / UW–MADISON

A group of young women take a selfie with Bucky Badger. — A group of Wisconsin fans pause from the party to take a photo with the icon Bucky Badger himself. PHOTO: JAKE PIPER / UW–MADISON

Two people wearing Bucky Badger hats watch on as fireworks explode over Lake Mendota. — Two students take in the fireworks that ended the evening’s events. This year the block party also included a DJ set from DJay Mando and stargazing with the UW Astronomy Club. PHOTO: JAKE PIPER / UW–MADISON

The UW football team runs onto the field at Camp Randall Stadium — And they’re off! On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Badger football team run onto the field, ready for their Homecoming game against the Michigan State Spartans. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

Group of UW students aim wooden canes at the yellow goalposts in Camp Randall Stadium. — Cane you dig it? Third-year law students run across the field and toss their canes through the goalposts in a time-honored tradition. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A group of Badger Fans in the stands at Camp Randall throw their hands in the air and jump around. — From one tradition to another, Badger fans packed it up and packed it in after the close of the third quarter for “Jump Around.” Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A player wearing a red UW Athletics jersey with the number one misses a tackle and runs with the ball towards the end zone. — Badger quarterback Colton Joseph (#1) runs the ball to the end zone. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison

A member of the UW Marching Band holds her hands in a W formation as fellow band members jump in the air behind her. — The UW Marching Band performs during Fifth Quarter after the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Michigan State Spartans 31-3, putting a wrap on another Homecoming Week to remember. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison