Short answer: the Bayou Classic 2026 is Thanksgiving weekend in New Orleans. The Battle of the Bands and Greek Show is Friday, November 27, and the 53rd game, Southern vs Grambling State, kicks off Saturday, November 28 at 1:00 PM at the Caesars Superdome. It is one of the biggest weekends of the year downtown, so the smart way to get there is a chauffeured car that drops you at the dome and is waiting when you come out.
Bayou Classic 2026 dates and times
The 2026 schedule was set when tickets went on sale in May, as WAFB reported:
- Friday, November 27: Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands and Greek Show, Caesars Superdome (evening; the Superdome lists 7:00 PM)
- Saturday, November 28, 1:00 PM: 53rd Annual Bayou Classic, Southern vs Grambling State, Caesars Superdome
Southern is the designated home team this year and sits on the west sideline, with Grambling on the east side, per the Ticketmaster event listing. The Caesars Superdome describes the weekend as a week of events, including a parade and fan festival, building to Saturday's game.
Why this weekend is different
This is not an ordinary game day. The Classic lands on the same weekend as Thanksgiving travel, so hotel check-ins, airport arrivals, the Friday night band show and Saturday's kickoff all stack on top of each other in the same few blocks of the CBD. Southern also comes in with a new head coach in 2026, New Orleans native Marshall Faulk, which only adds to the homecoming feel.
Parking around the Superdome fills early, and the dome itself is cashless, parking included. Groups coming in for the whole weekend usually want one plan that covers the band show, the game and dinner after, without anyone circling for a space or waiting on a rideshare surge after the final whistle.
Getting to the Superdome
For the Saturday game, plan to be at the dome well before the 1:00 PM kickoff; gates and bag checks move slowly on a sold-in weekend. Your chauffeur picks your group up at your hotel or home, drops you as close to your gate as the day's traffic plan allows, then stages nearby. When the game ends you walk out to a car that is already waiting, instead of joining 70,000 people looking for a ride.
The same car can take you to the Battle of the Bands on Friday night, and on to dinner or a second line after either event.
Bayou Classic transportation rates (6-hour minimum)
Game weekend is booked hourly with a six-hour minimum, so your chauffeur stays with your group the whole time. Prices are all-in, gratuity and fuel surcharge included:
| Vehicle | Passengers | Per hour, all-in | 6 hours, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | up to 2 | $91.00 | $546.00 |
| SUV | up to 6 | $123.50 | $741.00 |
| Premium SUV | up to 6 | $162.50 | $975.00 |
| Executive Sprinter | up to 14 | $195.00 | $1,170.00 |
| Limo Sprinter | up to 12 | $260.00 | $1,560.00 |
| Executive Bus | up to 23 | $273.00 | $1,638.00 |
| Limo Party Bus | up to 24 | $373.75 | $2,242.50 |
| Motorcoach | up to 56 | $617.50 | $3,705.00 |
Split across a full Sprinter, six hours is about $84 a person. Thanksgiving weekend is one of the first weekends of the year to sell out, so book as early as you can.
The six hours start at your pickup time and cover every stop your group makes: the hotel, a pre-game lunch, the dome, a post-game dinner and the ride back. If the day runs long, extra time is billed at the same hourly rate, and your chauffeur will let you know before the six hours are up so there are no surprises. Larger parties that need two vehicles can book them together, and the chauffeurs coordinate pickups so the whole group arrives at the same time.
Plan your Bayou Classic weekend, day by day
Most groups treat this as a four-day trip rather than a single game, and the transportation plan works best when it follows the same shape.
Thursday, Thanksgiving Day (November 26). Arrival day for most out-of-town fans. Flights into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International are heavy all week, and the curb at MSY is at its busiest. A pre-booked car means your chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you inside, instead of your group waiting in the rideshare line with everyone else who landed that afternoon.
Friday (November 27). The Battle of the Bands and Greek Show fills the dome in the evening. Many groups book a six-hour block that starts with an early dinner, covers the band show and ends with a ride back to the hotel after the crowd clears, so nobody has to find parking twice in one weekend.
Saturday (November 28). Game day. Kickoff is 1:00 PM, so a typical six-hour booking runs from late morning pickup, through the game, to a post-game dinner or a stop in the French Quarter. The chauffeur stages near the dome while you are inside and meets you at an agreed spot after the final whistle.
Sunday (November 29). Departure day, and the other half of the holiday travel rush. Book your airport transfer when you book the weekend, so the ride to MSY is settled before you arrive.
Flying in for Thanksgiving weekend
If your group is flying, the airport transfer is priced separately from the game-day block. From MSY to a downtown or French Quarter hotel, all-in with gratuity and fuel surcharge, it is $126.50 in a sedan, $165.50 in an SUV and $278 in an Executive Sprinter for up to 14. Your chauffeur tracks the flight, so a delayed arrival does not cost you the car, and meets your group inside at baggage claim. See airport transfers for every vehicle.
Which vehicle fits your group
- Couples and small parties (up to 2): a sedan is the simplest option for the band show or the game.
- Families and friends (up to 6): an SUV or Premium SUV. With luggage on arrival day, six adults fill an SUV, so plan on a Sprinter if everyone is traveling with bags.
- Alumni groups and reunions (up to 14): an Executive Sprinter keeps the group together and is usually the best value per person.
- Tailgate-style groups (up to 24): a limo party bus, with room to stand and perimeter seating for the ride in and the celebration after.
- Chapters, bands and large reunions (up to 56): a motorcoach, one vehicle for the whole group.
Pickup, drop-off and meeting after the game
Streets around the Superdome change hour by hour on a game day, so the exact drop-off point is set the morning of the game based on the city's traffic plan. Before you go in, agree on a meeting point with your chauffeur and save the dispatch number, 504.320.8448, in every phone in the group. After the game, walk a few blocks away from the densest crowd to the agreed spot; the car will be there, and you will be on your way while the rideshare queue is still forming.
Tickets and Superdome rules
Tickets went on sale in May at roughly $32 to $255 for the game and $38 to $125 for the Battle of the Bands, according to WAFB. The Superdome enforces a clear bag policy: clear bags up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. It is cashless inside, including parking, concessions and merchandise.
What riders say
"My husband and I come for Jazz Fest every year. This is the first year we decided to book transportation and thank goodness we did. Parking was a nightmare, so it was great to have a dedicated driver." — Jordan, Google review, May 2025
"I recently booked Jazzy Limousine & Shuttle for an LSU football charter in their Mercedes Benz Sprinter, and it was the best decision I could have made!" — Rayanard, Google review, November 2024
"Our group of 11 used this shuttle service from the New Orleans airport to our hotel in the French Quarter. We had top notch service!" — Tonya, Google review, January 2026
"We had the best service ever during the NCAA Football Championship in New Orleans - LSU / Clemson..Go Tigers." — Timothy, Google review, February 2020
Book your ride
For groups, see our Superdome transportation page and our Sprinter van service for up to 14. Flying in for the weekend? Pair your game-day car with an airport transfer from MSY. Call 504.320.8448 or request a quote and tell us your hotel, your group size and which events you plan to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Bayou Classic 2026?
Thanksgiving weekend. The Battle of the Bands and Greek Show is Friday, November 27, 2026, and the 53rd Bayou Classic game, Southern vs Grambling State, kicks off Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
How much are Bayou Classic 2026 tickets?
When tickets went on sale in May 2026, game tickets ranged from about $32 to $255 and Battle of the Bands tickets from about $38 to $125, according to WAFB.
Who is the home team at the Bayou Classic 2026?
Southern University is the designated home team in 2026, on the west sideline. Grambling State is the visitor. Southern has won the last four Bayou Classics, including 28-27 in 2025.
How much is a car to the Bayou Classic?
Bayou Classic weekend is booked hourly with a six-hour minimum, all-in with gratuity and fuel surcharge: $546 for a sedan, $741 for an SUV, $1,170 for an Executive Sprinter for up to 14, and $2,242.50 for a 24-passenger limo party bus. The chauffeur stays with your group for the whole six hours.
Can I bring a bag into the Superdome for the Bayou Classic?
Only clear bags up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. The Superdome is also cashless, including parking and concessions.