Homecoming 2026 Open House Information
During the Homecoming season, open houses at Howard University’s schools and colleges provide an excellent opportunity for prospective students to see what they offer, and allow visiting alumni to reminisce about their days in class.
Anthony K. Wutoh, PhD, RPh, is the provost and chief academic officer of Howard University. He’s seen the open houses evolve from something offered by a few of the schools and colleges to all 14 doing so. Better yet, social media has made it more possible to build excitement for the events to all.
Open house season begins this year with Bison Preview, which allowed prospective students to craft a personalized tour of the campus. However, most of the open houses happen during Homecoming week itself.
What makes Wutoh excited about Homecoming is, “certainly, having alums return to get a sense of what traditions we have maintained and what things they did as students that we have tried to improve upon.”
The upgrades include new campus buildings and renovations at others. Recently renovated properties include the Myrtilla Miner Building, home of the School of Education, and Lulu Vere Childers Hall, home of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Arts and Sciences. The Wonder Plaza is undergoing a complete overhaul; when completed, it will incorporate student housing, street-level retail, a health-and-wellness center, and underground parking. New campus properties include The Oliver, a mixed-use building that includes University offices and housing for graduate students.
Wutoh said the two audiences, future students and returning alumni, get different things from the experience.
“Primarily, it has been returning alums who’ve taken advantage to come and see, what has changed, and what things are still in place from when they were a student. But, in many cases, alums bring their children, who are potential students, and several schools have also open houses as an opportunity to advertise and to promote to potential students,” he said.
Some schools present activities that allow alumni to get a sense of how current students are engaged in the academic experience, Wutoh said.
The visiting alumni also reflect on what their experience was like when they were here as students, “but also reflect on the progress that has been made, and modern things incorporated that are helping to prepare students in ways that will allow them to be successful in the current environment and going forward.”
Here are the open houses and welcome events at Howard’s schools and colleges. Addresses are given for events happening away from the Main Campus. Look for more activities at Homecoming 2026 Events and Tickets.
Tuesday, October 13
Fireside Chat on the Profession of Social Work
Time:
5:30 –7 p.m
Location:
School of Social Work
Inabel Burns Lindsay Hall Auditorium
Wednesday, October 14
“Wisdom Keepers, Hope Seekers”
Time:
Daylong events
Location:
School of Divinity - West Campus
Holy Cross Hall
2900 Van Ness St. NW, Washington, DC
“Lighting the Torch of Our Wildest Dreams”
Time:
Daylong events
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Lulu Vere Childers Hall
FounderFest
Sponsored by PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
Time:
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location:
School of Business @ Founders Library
Bison on the Bench Reception
Location:
School of Law - West Campus
2900 Van Ness St. NW, Washington, D.C.
“Necessary Means: Adreinne Waheed on ‘Gathering & Power’ Exhibition”
Time:
5–5:50 p.m.
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts @ Founders Library, Browsing Room
“Gathering and Power” Exhibition Opening and Reception
Time:
6–7:30 p.m.
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
@
Founders Library, Museum and Foyer
“Club 520 LIVE: Homecoming Edition”
Co-sponsored by Project 68
Time:
6 p.m.
Location:
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
@
The Howard Theatre
620 T St. NW, Washington, D.C.
“115 Years of Excellence in Architectural Education — Honoring a Remarkable Legacy”
Time:
6–8 p.m.
Location:
College of Engineering and Architecture
Howard H. Mackey Building, Innovation Space, Room G01
Thursday, October 15
“Lighting the Torch of Our Wildest Dreams”
Time:
Daylong events
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Lulu Vere Childers Hall
5th Annual VIP Brunch
Sponsored by Warner Music | Blavatnik Center for Music Business
Time:
10 a.m.
Location:
School of Business
@
Armour J. Blackburn Center, Gallery Lounge
Digital Literacy Project Showcase
Time:
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location:
School of Business
Room 426
Center for Digital Business
21 Cap 3rd Annual Family Reunion
Sponsored by 21 Cap
Time:
11a.m.–2 p.m.
Location:
School of Business, School of Business Patio
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts Open House
Time:
12:40–6 p.m.
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, Lulu Vere Childers Hall
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts Alumni Mixer
Time:
6 –9 p.m.
Location:
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
@
Sandlot Uptown
1900 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Homecoming
Time:
1–3 p.m.
Location:
College of Medicine
Homecoming Open House
Time:
4–8 p.m.
Location:
College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences
801 North Capitol St. NW, Washington, D.C.
CEA Alumni Open House
Including student guided tours
Time:
5–8 p.m.
Location:
College of Engineering and Architecture
Howard H. Mackey Building and Lewis K. Downing Hall
Alumni Homecoming Open House and Alumni Mixer
Time:
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location:
School of Education
Myrtilla Miner Building
Special Film Screening: Cathy Hughes Documentary
Time:
6 p.m.
Location:
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
@
Founders Library, Browsing Room
CFE Conversations: Leaders in High Finance Fireside Chat and Reception
Sponsored by HPS Center for Financial Excellence
Time:
6–8 p.m.
Location:
School of Business
@
Marriott Marquis Washington DC
901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Alumni Open House and Ribbon Cutting for Innovative Hub
Time:
6–8 p.m.
Location:
College of Arts and Sciences
Alain Locke Hall
College of Pharmacy Alumni and Friends Homecoming Reception
Time:
6–8 p.m.
Location:
College of Pharmacy
640 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
4th Annual Graduate & Professional School Student Homecoming Mixer Celebration
Time:
7 –11 p.m.
Location:
Throw Social DC, 2nd Floor
1401 Okie St. NE
Suite 102
Washington, D.C
Friday, October 16
HBCU Center 5th Anniversary and Fellows Homecoming
Time:
9 a.m.
Location:
Center for HBCU Research, Leadership, and Policy
Myrtilla Miner Building
Bison in Business Breakfast
Sponsored by PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship
Time:
9–11 a.m.
Location:
School of Business
@
University Club of Washington, DC
1135 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
55 for 55 Recognition Ceremony
Time:
6 p.m.
Location:
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
@
Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library
HUSL Sneaker Ball
Time:
7–10 p.m.
Location:
School of Law
@
The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Saturday, October 17
Alumni Open House
Time:
11 a.m.
Location:
College of Dentistry
Russell A. Dixon Building
1st Floor Student Lounge
Graduate School Homecoming Alumni Networking Brunch 2026
Time:
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location:
Interdisciplinary Research Building
Multipurpose Room
Homecoming Social, Mixer and Open House
Time:
11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Location:
Cathy Hughes School of Communications
@
Armour J. Blackburn Center (room to be determined)
CEA Alumni Homecoming Pregame Mixer
Time:
1–3 p.m.
Location:
College of Engineering and Architecture
Howard H. Mackey Building, Innovation Space
Room G01