MIAA Drops Gillette Stadium for Football Finals
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association will no longer hold high school football state championships at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
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The MIAA announced Monday that the 2026 high school football state championships will not be played at Gillette Stadium, where games had been held since 2007. The association was informed late the prior week that using the stadium is no longer an option, and the 2026 MIAA Football Tournament begins this week.
Why it matters
The change removes the long-running home of Massachusetts high school football's championship games, forcing the MIAA to find new venues during an active tournament. The sudden timing leaves student-athletes and school communities across the state adjusting to a different championship setting.
The MIAA has hosted state football championship games at Gillette Stadium since 2007, a run that ends with the 2026 tournament. The association has not yet named the replacement venues for this year's finals.
The players
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA)
The MIAA is the governing body that oversees interscholastic athletics, including high school football state championships, for public and private schools across Massachusetts.
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is the Foxborough, Massachusetts venue that has been home to New England Patriots games and hosted MIAA state football championship games since 2007.
The details
The MIAA said it was informed late last week that using Gillette Stadium for the championships is no longer an option, and it issued the change in a statement Monday. The association says it will work diligently to secure host sites that provide the best possible championship experience for student athletes and school communities.
Timeline
2007: Championship games began being played at Gillette Stadium.
Late last week: The MIAA was informed that Gillette Stadium use is no longer an option.
Monday, November 2, 2026: The MIAA announced the change in a release.
Week of November 2, 2026: The 2026 MIAA Football Tournament begins.
Season Trajectory
Gillette Stadium has hosted Massachusetts high school football championship games every year since 2007, making its exit a notable break in a nearly twenty-year championship tradition. The move shifts the state's postseason football finals into an uncertain venue landscape just as the 2026 tournament gets underway.
Families and fans planning to attend the 2026 state championship games will need to watch for the newly announced venues, since the familiar Gillette Stadium location is no longer on the schedule. Schools advancing to the finals should expect logistics such as travel and tickets to change from prior years.
The takeaway
Massachusetts high school football fans should keep an eye on official MIAA channels for the replacement venues, since the traditional Gillette Stadium setting will not host the 2026 finals. Checking announcements early can help families plan travel and attendance for the championship games.
What happens next
The MIAA has said it will secure alternative host sites for the 2026 football championships, though no dates or venues have been announced.
Further reading
Explore more Football coverage for the latest on high school championship play across Massachusetts.
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