The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) welcomes alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends to celebrate Homecoming 2026 with events across campus, including talks with a Broadway playwright, music performances, department gatherings, and the annual parade.
Playwright and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter (MFA ’07), a graduate of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop and recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Homecoming Parade.
Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 7:30–8:30 p.m. | R. Wayne Richey Ballroom in Iowa Memorial Union
Hunter will discuss his career writing for stage and film in From Iowa to Broadway: A Conversation with Playwright and Screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter. This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, Oct. 29 | 6:30 p.m. | AJB E105 / Friday, Oct. 30 | 10-11:00 a.m. | AJB E105
The Whale, the Academy Award-winning film adapted from Hunter's acclaimed play, will be screened on Thursday, followed by a conversation with Hunter about the adaptation and screenwriting process on Friday. Both parts of the event are free and open to the public.
Celebrate 10 years of the Voxman Music Building
Thursday, Oct. 29 | 4:30–6 p.m. | Voxman Music Building
The School of Music will celebrate the Voxman Music Building’s 10th anniversary with an open house featuring student performances, refreshments, and an appearance from Hollywood composer and Iowa alumnus Scott Icenogle (BA ’91), to premiere his new composition, Ode to Voxman.
A commemorative video featuring Icenogle’s composition will premiere in the Recital Hall at 5:15 p.m. The event is free and open to all.
Friday, Oct. 30 | 3:30–5:30 p.m. | Biology Building East Lobby
Biology alumni and friends are invited to reconnect with faculty, staff, and students during an afternoon social gathering.
Guests can also tour the Biology Building and Biology Building East, including the greenhouse, an upper-level teaching lab, and the Carver Center for Imaging. Tours begin at 3:45 and 4:30 p.m. Refreshments and Biology merchandise will be available.
Reconnect with the Department of Political Science
Friday, Oct. 30 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. | Bose Library (341 Schaeffer Hall)
Political Science alumni are invited to a Meet and Greet to enjoy a social event with plenty of opportunities to connect.
Festivities will include a popcorn and candy bar, a photo booth featuring a cardboard cutout of Herky, and a swag wheel!
Join CLAS at the Homecoming Parade
Friday, Oct. 30 | 5:45 p.m. | Downtown Iowa City
CLAS will participate in the annual Homecoming Parade, with representatives from each academic unit in the college marching together. The Department of Theatre Arts will also participate in the parade, with CLAS alumnus Sam Hunter leading the parade as the Grand Marshal.