WKU Names 31 Candidates for Homecoming Queen
Western Kentucky University has named 31 students competing for the 2026 Homecoming Queen title ahead of the Nov. 14 football game.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Job Fairs
Western Kentucky University has named 31 candidates for the 2026 Homecoming Queen, with the winner to be crowned at halftime of the WKU vs. Jacksonville State football game on Saturday, Nov. 14. Students will vote through online balloting on Monday, Nov. 9.
Why it matters
The Homecoming celebration brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members around campus traditions. The competition gives candidates a visible role in the university's annual events.
Thirty-one students are competing for the title, with the kickoff for the Nov. 14 football game set for 2:30 p.m. at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. The official results of the student vote on Nov. 9 have not yet been released.
The players
Western Kentucky University
A public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, known as WKU, which hosts the annual Homecoming celebration.
Kaylee Hawkins
A WKU student from Glasgow, Kentucky, majoring in Sociology, Criminology and Psychology with a Forensic Psychology concentration, and one of the 31 candidates.
The details
Candidates take part in a fall social, an interview, a volunteer experience, and the Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally on Friday, Nov. 13. The 2026 Homecoming theme is "Big Red's World Tour," and Kaylee Hawkins of Glasgow, a Sociology, Criminology and Psychology major, is among the candidates.
Timeline
Friday, Nov. 13: Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally
Monday, Nov. 9: Online balloting for Homecoming Queen
Saturday, Nov. 14: Homecoming Queen crowned at halftime of football game
Campus Tradition
The 2026 competition follows WKU's established Homecoming format, which includes a parade, pep rally and halftime crowning at the football game. The "Big Red's World Tour" theme continues the university's annual practice of assigning a themed focus to the celebration.
Residents and students attending the Nov. 14 game at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium can watch the halftime crowning in person. Students can participate by casting a vote through online balloting on Nov. 9.
The takeaway
The Homecoming celebration offers students a structured way to take part in campus life through voting, parades and the halftime event. Attending the Nov. 14 game is one direct way to see the crowning in person.
What happens next
Students will vote for Homecoming Queen through online balloting on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, and the winner will be crowned at halftime of the Nov. 14 football game.
Further reading
For more on campus events and opportunities in the area, explore Job Fairs in Bowling Green.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCLU Radio.
