The Rally 2026
Join Us for The Rally!
At this immersive experience, we will personally introduce you to the vibrant, inclusive, and inspiring Notre Dame community. You will have opportunities to explore academics, community, faith, and the Notre Dame campus, and you will begin to build connections with your future classmates.
Rally Event Registration
April 19-20, 2026
Please use the same login information as your applicant status portal.
Rally Agenda
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Guest Early Check-in*
McKenna Hall Gallery
Optional
For guests who may be in town on Saturday, early check-in is available.
* Please click here for special Saturday parking information.
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Financial Aid Walk-in Hours
McKenna Hall, Financial Aid Offices, 1st Floor
Financial aid staff will be available to answer your questions.
Sunday, April 19, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Guest Check-in
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Rally Room Hospitality Lounge Open
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
The hub of the Rally. A place to have a cup of coffee, chat with admissions and financial aid staff, and see mock residence hall rooms.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Commit Alley at The Rally – Celebrate your commitment to Notre Dame!
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Come see us in the North Dome so we can celebrate your commitment to Notre Dame! There are confetti cannons and music, and you'll get the opportunity to build your own custom LEGO minifigure to take home.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Financial Aid Walk-up Hours
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Financial aid staff will be available to answer your questions.
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Campus Tours
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Join us for a student-led walking tour that showcases the buildings, landmarks, and spaces that define our beautiful campus. As you explore, our guides will share their personal experiences and what they find most special about life at Notre Dame.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Mass
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Optional (Full Mass schedule)
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Lunch (On Your Own)
Campus Dining Options
Off-Campus Dining Options
12:45 – 5:15 p.m.
Academic Experience per College/School
Our colleges and schools are excited to welcome you and your family, providing glimpses into Notre Dame's academic experiences. Faculty will introduce you to our many dynamic learning opportunities set in vibrant, on-campus and global spaces. After these sessions, we hope you will fully envision yourself as a ND undergraduate!
5:15 – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Dinner
Your specific timeslot and meal location can be found in your personalized schedule on the Rally Portal.
Join us for dinner on campus to connect with fellow admitted students, current students, and staff to experience our campus hospitality firsthand.
7:15 – 8:00 p.m.
Welcome to Notre Dame
Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center, Enter Main Entrance, Gate 9
The official welcome of The Rally 2026! Join us for a spirited celebration of the incoming Class of 2030 featuring current student, Brigid O'Driscoll '26, Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment, Micki Kidder, Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, John McGreevy, Class of 2027 President, Aleah Applin, and Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry, Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. We’ll extend our heartfelt welcome to new students and families, celebrate your journey, and offer inspiration as you embark on your academic adventure within the vibrant Notre Dame community.
8:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Class of 2030 Connect (students only)
Loftus Sports Center
Join your fellow students for some fun and games! Complete with inflatables and live music provided by a student DJ, you will not want to miss this golden opportunity. You'll meet students from all over the world, build new relationships, and have a lot of fun too!
8:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Dessert Reception (parents/guests)
Joyce Center, North Dome
This event showcases local eateries as a "sweet and savory" reception for parents and guests. This will serve as great exposure to all the delicious spots, both on-campus and off, that families can treat their students to when they come to town, or even remotely.
Monday, April 20, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Check-in (for those who have not already checked in)
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Rally Room Hospitality Lounge Open
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Commit Alley at The Rally
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Celebrate your commitment to Notre Dame with confetti cannons, music, and the opportunity to build your own custom LEGO minifigure to take home.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Financial Aid Walk-in Hours
McKenna Hall, Financial Aid Offices, 1st Floor
Financial aid staff will be available to answer your questions.
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Campus Tours
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Join us for a student-led walking tour that showcases the buildings, landmarks, and spaces that define our beautiful campus. As you explore, our guides will share their personal experiences and what they find most special about life at Notre Dame.
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Academic and Student Services Resource Fair
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Join us for the Resource Fair, a dedicated opportunity for admitted students and their parents to meet and ask questions directly of Notre Dame staff and faculty. This event is a campus-wide showcase where over 100 University departments and programs will be available. You will have the chance to personally connect with staff members from units across the University who can provide information and answer your specific questions about academics, campus services and student support. It's your chance to engage with the people who make up the Notre Dame community!
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Residential Life Experience (students only)
Joyce Center, North Dome, Enter Gate 3
Our vibrant residential campus life centers around the heartbeat of our residence halls, where connections that last a lifetime are forged. These living spaces aren't just rooms; they're the building blocks of the unique Notre Dame experience. Each residence hall has its own distinct traditions, mascot, and in-residence hall staff to support you. Please note: Residence hall tours are only open to admitted students. This experience will last approximately one hour from registered time.
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Why Notre Dame: A Distinctive Undergraduate Experience (students and guests)
Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center, Main Entrance, Gate 9
What makes the Notre Dame experience truly distinctive? Join Vice President for Student Affairs, Fr. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., and a panel of current students: Robbie Wollan '28, Maeve Miller '26, Kaza-Zack Kazirukanyo '27, and Blessing Akinro '26, for a candid conversation about the unique opportunities and traditions that define life under the Dome. Through their lived experiences, discover how we cultivate both the mind and the heart—creating a foundation for a life of purpose and a success that is uniquely your own.
Noon – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch
Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center, Main Entrance, Gate 9
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Sister Thea Bowman Center Open House
LaFortune Student Center
We invite you to stop by the Sister Thea Bowman Center, a welcoming space where students build community and deepen their sense of belonging at Notre Dame. The Center is home to Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS), the Gender Relations Center (GRC), and the Office of Student Enrichment (OSE), and serves as a hub for students engaging with these resources. Please feel free to visit at any point during the open house and stay for as long—or as briefly—as you’d like; we will also feature 30-minute Departmental Introductions and a Student Panel at 1:30 p.m. and at 3:15 p.m.
1:10 – 4:15 p.m.
Signature Sessions
Various Campus Locations
These sessions are designed to provide more information on popular topics. Open to all students and families.
(Sessions: Block One: 1:10 - 1:55 p.m.; Block Two : 2:20 - 3:05 p.m.; Block Three: 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.)
- Academic Resources at Notre Dame
- Career Development and Alumni Connections
- Financial Aid and Your Path to Notre Dame
- International Student Support and Services
- Nourishing Your Spirituality
- Residential Life and Growing in Community
- Study Abroad and Global Opportunities
- Student Wellness and Accessibility
- Student Wellness and Well-Being
- Undergraduate Research and Fellowships
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Check-in (for those who have not already checked in)
McKenna Hall Gallery
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Commit Alley at the Rally
McKenna Hall Gallery
Come see us at McKenna Hall and celebrate your commitment to Notre Dame with confetti cannons, music, and the opportunity to build your own custom LEGO minifigure to take home.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Love Thee, Notre Dame!
South Quad of Campus
Join admitted students, their families, and the entire Notre Dame community for a spirited, campus-wide close to The Rally 2026. This high-energy event will welcome the Notre Dame Class of 2030 and feature Fr. Pete as DJ, the Notre Dame Marching Band, the Leprechaun, and other special guests that you won’t want to miss!
Free giveaways and food for all: come and get your green Rally towels, ND cookies, and more! Music with Fr. Pete begins at 4:00 p.m., admitted students and families welcome at 4:15 p.m., guests remarks at 4:30 p.m.
All current students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to join us for this special event. Show your love for Our Lady’s University, celebrate the family that makes her distinct, and give our newest class a Notre Dame welcome they won’t forget!
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Taste of South Bend
Shuttle buses will run from McKenna Hall to downtown South Bend and back.
Get a taste of downtown South Bend’s vibrant food scene! This special dinner event works like a restaurant week: guests can choose their own experience by selecting a participating downtown South Bend restaurant.
Brought to you in partnership with Visit South Bend Mishawaka, Downtown South Bend (DTSB) and the Downtown Dining Association (DDA).
Please note: Times are Eastern Standard Time.
Agenda subject to change.
Please email TheRally@nd.edu with questions.