College Football

Cactus Bowl returns to Tempe

Tempe Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid, Nick Smith, and Graham Rossini pose for a photo after announcing the Cactus Bowl return to Tempe.

(Independent Newsmedia/Madeline Bates)

After more than a decade’s hiatus, the Cactus Bowl is back on Sun Devil territory for 2026.

In a press conference at Mountain America Stadium, Fiesta Bowl Executive Vice President Nick Smith and others announced the Cactus Bowl would be at Arizona State University’s stadium on Dec. 26, bringing back a festival that Tempe once held annually with dozens of festivities surrounding it.

“We want this game not just to be fantastic, we want it to be one of our signature events,” Smith said.

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