Southwest Airlines has a firm grasp on 2026's remaining sports and entertainment calendar.
On Tuesday, the low-cost carrier confirmed that it has bolstered its flight schedule, even launching new routes, to ensure travelers can make it to their favorite college and pro football games, music festivals, races and other pulse-pounding events this fall.
Enhanced Flight Schedule for College Football
Southwest is the official airline of the Southeastern Conference and the carrier is living up to its title by giving fans added options to catch their favorite SEC squads in action this autumn.
The carrier is also bringing back its Heart for the Game Sweepstakes on August 17, giving two fans the chance to win round-trip flights, accommodations, and tickets to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta in December.
Before then, here's what college football fans can look forward:
Baylor vs. Auburn – September 5 in Atlanta
- Dallas-Atlanta increased service
Arizona State at Texas A&M – September 12
- Phoenix-Houston increased service
Ohio State at Texas – September 12
- Cleveland-Austin new service
- Columbus-Austin increased service
Oklahoma at Michigan – September 12
- Oklahoma City-Detroit new service
Florida State at Alabama – September 19
- Tampa-Birmingham increased service
LSU at Ole Miss – September 19
- Dallas-Memphis increased service
- Houston-Memphis increased service
Oklahoma at Georgia – September 26
- Oklahoma City-Atlanta new service
Sam Houston at Texas Tech – September 26
- Austin-Lubbock increased service
- Dallas-Lubbock increased service
- Houston-Lubbock increased service
Texas at Tennessee – September 26
- Austin-Knoxville new service
- Dallas-Knoxville increased service
Tiger Stadium on LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo Credit: Chad Robertson/Adobe)
Texas A&M at LSU – September 26
- Austin-New Orleans increased service
- Dallas-New Orleans increased service
Utah State at Boise State – October 3
- Oakland-Boise increased service
- Sacramento-Boise increased service
- San Jose-Boise increased service
LSU at Kentucky – October 10
- New Orleans-Louisville increased service
Nebraska at Oregon – October 17
Kentucky at Oklahoma – October 17
- Louisville-Oklahoma City new service
Florida at Texas – October 17
- Tampa-Austin increased service
Texas A&M at Alabama – October 24
- Dallas-Birmingham increased service
- Houston-Birmingham increased service
Statue of coach Nick Saban outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo Credit: Stephen/Adobe)
Ole Miss at Texas – October 24
- Memphis-Austin increased service
Oklahoma at Florida – November 7
- Oklahoma City-Jacksonville new service
Texas at LSU – November 14
- Austin-New Orleans increased service
- Dallas-New Orleans increased service
Tennessee at Texas A&M – November 14
- Nashville-Austin increased service
- Nashville-Houston increased service
- Knoxville-Austin new service
Ohio State at Nebraska – November 21
- Columbus-Omaha new service
SMU at Notre Dame – November 21
- Dallas-Chicago (Midway) increased service
New Flights for NFL Fans
Southwest has activated around 19 NFL matchups this upcoming season, including the following routes that do not currently feature nonstop Southwest service:
- Minneapolis/St. Paul-New Orleans - Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (October 11)
- Kansas City-Seattle - Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks (October 25)
- Miami-Boston - New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (November 1)
- Cleveland-New Orleans - Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints (November 8)
- Milwaukee-Boston - Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots (November 8)
Increased Service for Fall Music Festivals
Southwest is also adding flights for travelers heading to popular music festivals later this year, including September's Lost Lands outside of Columbus, Ohio (September 18-20), the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas (September 18-19) and Austin City Limits (October 2-4 and October 9-11).
Connecting Travelers to Other Events
Las Vegas Grand Prix Turn 1 (Photo Credit: Las Vegas Grand Prix)
Southwest also announced it has added service for volleyball fans, including flights to and from Omaha, Nebraska, so that fans can watch the powerhouse Cornhuskers women's team.
What's more, more flights are available through Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta taking place October 3-11.
Meanwhile, runners can look forward to added frequencies for Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in Orlando, Florida, from October 22-25.
Southwest is also beefing up service around a pair of Formula 1 Grand Prix events in Austin (October 23-25) and Vegas (November 19-21) this autumn.
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