UVA Will Host 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships

May 27, 2025
wide-angle shot of Scott Stadium at UVA

Typically home to UVA football, the 60,000-seat Scott Stadium will serve as a lacrosse venue next Memorial Day weekend. (University Communications photo)

The University of Virginia has been named host of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships, with games to be played at Scott Stadium.

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In keeping with longstanding tradition, the 2026 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships – also known as “Championship Weekend” – will take place over Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-25. Championship Weekend culminates with the Division I title game as a stand-alone finale on Memorial Day.

Scott Stadium accommodates more than 60,000 spectators, serves as the home of UVA football and has hosted concerts for some of the world’s most iconic touring artists, including The Rolling Stones, U2, and Charlottesville’s own Dave Matthews Band. 

“We extend our gratitude to the NCAA and the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Committee for entrusting us with the opportunity to host Championship Weekend,” Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams said. “We have great respect for the history and tradition of this iconic event and UVA is honored to welcome collegiate men’s lacrosse to Charlottesville.”

UVA won hosting duties after the NCAA announced a venue change in the fall of 2023, following a scheduling conflict with Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots of the NFL and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. The Massachusetts venue was selected as one of the host sites for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Tuition Covered For Virginia Households Making <$100K
Tuition Covered For Virginia Households Making <$100K

Next year’s Championship Weekend marks the first time since 1982 that UVA will host the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Before that, UVA previously hosted the event at Scott Stadium in 1977. UVA has hosted only two other NCAA Championships, the Division I men’s and women’s cross country championship races in 1987 and 2023. Next year’s championships mark the first time postseason lacrosse will be played at the venue since it served as a host site for the 2004 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Scott Stadium is also the first campus stadium to be the final site of the Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship since 2002 when Rutgers hosted the event.

“The Division I Men’s Lacrosse Committee is excited to head to Charlottesville for a fantastic championship experience in 2026,” said Matt Colagiovanni, committee chair and deputy athletic director at Rutgers. “We are thrilled to work with the University of Virginia staff and local community to provide an outstanding championship experience for the student athletes as the event returns to a college campus setting.”

Not since April 2, 2011, when the Cavaliers hosted the University of Maryland in a nationally televised regular-season matchup, has a lacrosse game been played at Scott Stadium. 

Before Klöckner Stadium’s inaugural season in 1993, Scott Stadium served as UVA’s primary home for lacrosse. 

Media Contact

Patrick Boling

Assistant Athletic Communications Director

Article Information

May 28, 2025

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