Howard Payne University will bring alumni, families, prospective students and current students together in Brownwood for its 2026 Homecoming celebration on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. Registration is now open for the weekend, which will also include Yellow Jacket Preview and Family Weekend.
The celebration, presented by Citizens National Bank, is designed to give Yellow Jackets an opportunity to return to campus, reconnect with classmates and friends, and take part in long-standing Howard Payne traditions. The university announced the schedule on Aug. 27, 2026.
Homecoming activities planned across the weekend
Events listed for the weekend include the Alumni Banquet, a production of The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical by the HPU School of Education and Fine Arts, Cobbler on the Campus, a pep rally, the Homecoming Parade, the HPU Family Picnic and a Yellow Jacket football game against Nelson University.
Some Homecoming activities require payment, while many others are free. Prospective students who want to attend Yellow Jacket Preview can register through the Homecoming website, and all Yellow Jacket Preview events are free of charge.
Howard Payne is also bringing back its Stinger Pass as a lower-cost option for several Saturday activities. The pass costs $20 per person and includes breakfast, lunch at the HPU Family Picnic and admission to the Yellow Jacket football game on Saturday, Oct. 3. The university said those items have a combined value of $35.
Reunions and family activities
The weekend will include reunions for alumni from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, as well as reunions for the classes of 1976, 1986 and 2006. Graduates from 2016 through 2026 can attend the Young Alumni Reunion.
Families may also register children and grandchildren for the Junior Jackets Club. The club is open to children from newborns through age 18. Membership includes free admission to the HPU Family Picnic on Saturday, an HPU shirt, a nametag, access to exclusive events throughout the year and a birthday card.
“Homecoming is an incredible opportunity for Yellow Jackets from throughout Texas and across the country to come back to Brownwood and enjoy time on the HPU campus,” Lindsay Badgeley ’09, director of alumni relations, said in the university announcement. “It’s a chance to reconnect with friends, celebrate HPU traditions and see all the amazing updates around the campus.”
Registration and additional information
Registration for Homecoming, Yellow Jacket Preview and other weekend activities is available at www.hputx.edu/homecoming. The site also provides lodging information and details about the individual events.
Howard Payne University, founded in 1889, describes itself as a Christ-centered liberal arts university in Brownwood. The university says it offers more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs through six schools and serves students at three locations.