The 56th Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is a CFP Quarterfinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the only football game played that day. Bowl week opens with the Cactus Bowl in Tempe on December 26 and closes with the Fiesta Bowl Parade through Central Phoenix on January 2.
Who runs it: all three events are put on by the Fiesta Sports Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1971.
Tickets: game tickets and premium experiences are sold by the Fiesta Sports Foundation at fiestasportsfoundation.org/tickets, by phone or by email. Tickets are mobile only, in the SeatGeek app; printed copies of mobile tickets are not accepted. Children of all ages need their own ticket. The Foundation's pages do not post a price list, so ask the ticket office.
A note on timing: on 27 October 2026 the Foundation's A-Z guide still carried last season's January 8 game-day timeline. The bag, water, cashless and re-entry rules are stadium policy; the times marked last season will change when the guide is updated for December 30.
Since 1971: the first Fiesta Bowl was played December 27, 1971, Arizona State 45, Florida State 38.
1 State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale · 2 Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum, 7135 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale. Pins from Maricopa County Assessor address points. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
At State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, AZ 85305. The 2026-27 game is a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.
Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MST. It is the only football game played that day.
Two teams from the 12-team College Football Playoff field, which is announced on Sunday, December 6, 2026. First Round games are December 18 and 19, and the Fiesta Bowl winner advances to the CFP Semifinal.
Through the Fiesta Sports Foundation at fiestasportsfoundation.org/tickets, by calling 480.350.0911 or by emailing tickets@fiestasports.org. Premium experiences are at 602.480.9004. The Foundation's pages do not post a price list, so prices come from the ticket office.
In the lots around the stadium, with a mobile parking pass for every vehicle, bought ahead. The Foundation posts a 2026-27 parking map. The City of Glendale prohibits parking on residential streets and in undesignated areas. Last season rideshare ran from the Black Lot, south of the stadium.
Yes. One clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Other bags are not allowed in.
One factory-sealed, non-frozen 16.9 oz. bottle of plain water per person. Sports drinks, flavored water and other beverages are not allowed.
Yes. Concessions and merchandise take cards only, and cash-to-card kiosks are on the main, club and loft levels.
Last season the gates opened at 3:30 p.m. for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff and the parking lots at 11:30 a.m. On 27 October 2026 the Foundation's A-Z guide still showed last season's timeline, so check it again in December.
Saturday, January 2, 2027, starting at 10 a.m. It is the 54th Phoenix Children's Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, and it is free to watch.
A 1.5-mile march through Central Phoenix starting at N. Central Avenue and Montebello Avenue, Phoenix 85012. The Fiesta Sports Foundation posts the 2026-27 route map on its parade page.
Yes. The Cactus Bowl is Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. MST at Arizona State University's Mountain America Stadium in Tempe: bowl season's only Big Ten against Big 12 game, on ABC.
The Ellie & Michael Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum is at 7135 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 190, Scottsdale, at Via Soleri and Marshall Way. Admission is free, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
December 27, 1971. Arizona State beat Florida State, 45-38.
2027-28: CFP Quarterfinal, January 1, 2028. 2028-29: CFP Semifinal, January 11, 2029. 2029-30: CFP Quarterfinal, January 2, 2030. 2030-31: CFP Quarterfinal, January 1, 2031. 2031-32: CFP Semifinal, January 8, 2032.
Glendale, Tempe, Central Phoenix and Scottsdale all host part of it. If you are weighing where to live, I can walk you through the areas near the places you would use most and what is on the market there.
Checked 27 October 2026, all from the Fiesta Sports Foundation's own site. Fiesta Bowl date, kickoff, quarterfinal format, ticket office, CFP field and First Round dates, 56th game and 1971 founding: tickets announcement, 24 August 2026. Dates through 2032: dates announcement, 9 July 2026. Stadium address, mobile tickets, bag, water, cashless, roof, re-entry, ADA parking and carts, neighborhood parking, rideshare, bus, and last season's gate, lot and Fan Fest details: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl A-Z Guide, which on this date still carried the 2025-26 timeline. Parking map: 2026-27 parking map. Club '71: Club '71 Pregame Party. Museum: Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum. Parade: parade announcement, 7 October 2026, the parade page and its route map. Cactus Bowl: new identity announcement, 3 June 2026 and tickets announcement, 14 September 2026. First game: Fiesta Bowl history. Map pins: Maricopa County Assessor address points. The questions answered are ones people search on Google, each answered only from the pages above.