The Game is coming to Boston. On Saturday, November 21, 2026, Harvard and Yale meet for the 142nd time, and this year they're not playing at Harvard Stadium or the Yale Bowl. They're playing at Fenway Park.
It's only the second time since 1914 that The Game has been played anywhere else. The first was also at Fenway, in 2018, when Harvard won 45–27. Crimson fans will be hoping for a repeat: Yale has won the last four meetings.
I took the photo at the top of this post from the stands at Harvard Stadium in 2014. Yale led 24–7 going into the fourth quarter. Harvard came back to win 31–24 and finish a perfect 10–0 season. This year's Game will look very different, but if it's anything like that one, you'll want to be there.
If you're coming for the weekend, here's how to do it well, with Cambridge as your home base.
The Game at a glance
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026. Kickoff 3:30 PM.
- Where: Fenway Park, 4 Jersey Street, Boston.
- TV: ESPNU.
- Tickets: sold through the Red Sox / Fenway Park ticket office. Check the official event page.
- Gates: check your ticket. Harvard says its undergraduates get in at 1 PM, ahead of the general public.
No tailgating at Fenway. Plan your pre-game accordingly.
Anyone who has been to The Game at Harvard Stadium knows the tailgate is half the day. Fenway is different: there's no tailgating outside the ballpark. Harvard is holding its official student tailgate inside the stadium instead, and the Yale Club of Boston is hosting its gathering on a hospitality deck inside the park.
For everyone else, that means two good options:
- Make Friday night the party. Harvard is planning a lively Friday night on campus, and Harvard Square is at its best that weekend: packed with alumni, students and both schools' colors. Start with our guides to the best bars in Harvard Square and the best restaurants near Harvard Square. Book dinner early; it's one of the busiest weekends of the fall.
- Have a long, late lunch on Saturday before heading to the T. With a 3:30 kickoff, you have the whole morning in Cambridge.
Getting from Harvard Square to Fenway Park
Take the T. It's the easiest way, and it's what Harvard is telling its own students to do.
- Route: Red Line from Harvard (or Central) to Park Street, then any westbound Green Line B, C or D train to Kenmore. Fenway Park is a short walk from Kenmore Square. (Avoid the E train; it doesn't stop at Kenmore.)
- Time: about 30 minutes on a normal day. On game day, give yourself 45 minutes or more: trains and stations will be crowded with fans heading the same way.
- Alternative: the Route 1 bus runs straight down Massachusetts Avenue from Harvard Square to the Hynes Convention Center area, a walk of a few blocks from the ballpark.
- Driving: we don't recommend it. Parking near Fenway is limited and expensive, and traffic after the game is slow. If you drive to Cambridge, leave the car where you're staying and take the T. (More in our guide to parking in Cambridge.)
After the final whistle
The game should end around dusk. Lansdowne Street, right behind the Green Monster, and the bars around Kenmore Square will be full of both colors. Or ride the T back to Cambridge and celebrate (or recover) in Harvard Square, where things will be quieter than at Fenway but just as festive.
Sunday in Cambridge
Stay an extra night. Sunday is the best part of the weekend:
- Brunch. See our best brunch and breakfast in Harvard Square.
- Walk Harvard Yard without the crowds, then cross the Anderson Bridge to the Harvard Business School campus.
- Visit The Game's real home. Harvard Stadium sits just across the river from Harvard Square. Built in 1903, it's one of the oldest college football stadiums in the country, and it will be waiting for The Game's return.
- Catch the last of the fall color. Late November is the tail end of foliage season, but the riverbanks and Mount Auburn Cemetery often hold on. Our fall foliage guide has the best spots.
Where to stay for Harvard-Yale weekend
Hotels near Fenway fill up fast and get expensive on game weekend. Staying in Cambridge gives you the best of both: Friday night and Sunday morning in Harvard Square, and a straightforward T ride to Fenway on Saturday.
Ginkgo House is a restored 1867 Victorian on Harvard Street, between Harvard and Central Squares, a short walk from both Red Line stations. It's a quiet, comfortable base for alumni weekends, family visits and anyone who'd rather wake up in Cambridge than in a downtown tower. Rooms for Harvard-Yale weekend go quickly. Check availability and book direct →
Harvard-Yale 2026: quick FAQ
When and where is Harvard-Yale 2026?
Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Fenway Park in Boston. Kickoff is at 3:30 PM, on ESPNU.
Can you tailgate at Harvard-Yale 2026?
Not outside the ballpark. Fenway Park doesn't allow tailgating, so Harvard's official student tailgate is inside the stadium. Many fans make Friday night in Harvard Square their pre-game.
How do I get from Harvard Square to Fenway Park?
Take the Red Line to Park Street, then a Green Line B, C or D train to Kenmore. Allow 45 minutes or more on game day.
Why is The Game at Fenway instead of Harvard Stadium?
It was Harvard's turn to host, and Harvard chose Fenway Park, as it did once before, in 2018.
Where should I stay for Harvard-Yale weekend?
Cambridge is a great base: you can spend Friday night and Sunday in Harvard Square and reach Fenway by T in about half an hour.
Go Crimson. (Or Bulldogs. We welcome both.)
