The 13th IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, formerly the Camellia Bowl, kicks off 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, at Cramton Bowl on ESPN.

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. Facts come from the bowl’s own site, salutetoveteransbowl.com, including its 2026 date announcement, history, ticket, parking and stadium pages, and the Experience Montgomery listing. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The 13th annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery, on ESPN. ESPN Events announced the date June 3. The game was called the Camellia Bowl until it took its current name.

Know before you go

  • When: Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026. Kickoff 4:30 p.m. CT (5:30 p.m. ET).
  • Where: Cramton Bowl, 1022 Madison Ave.
  • TV: ESPN
  • Teams: picked from the MAC, Sun Belt and Conference USA after the regular season
  • Tickets: presale sign-up, military tickets and packages at salutetoveteransbowl.com; no public prices yet
  • Bags: clear, 12 by 12 inches or smaller

Kickoff time

The bowl’s announcement gives kickoff as 5:30 p.m. Eastern, which is 4:30 p.m. in Montgomery. The Experience Montgomery listing also gives 4:30 p.m. Central, and the banner at the top of the bowl’s website now gives the same 5:30 p.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN, so every source agrees.

Tickets

The bowl’s ticket page says tickets for the 2026 game go on sale to the general public in October, with a presale sign-up for first access. On Nov. 1 it still showed that wording, with no public sale link. It also lists military tickets and ticket packages. The bowl has not published 2026 prices on its site.

Parking, shuttles and tailgating

The bowl’s parking page still carries the rules from the 2025 game, which kicked off later in the evening. Expect the 2026 times to change. Last year:

  • Parking had to be bought ahead of time through the ticket link on the bowl’s site. Lots opened at 7 a.m.
  • City shuttles started at 5 p.m. on game day and ran until 90 minutes after the game.
  • Tailgating and pop-up tents were allowed only in Lot E, at $20 a space, booked through EAT South at 334-422-9331. Lots J and K were $20.
  • RVs parked at Cramton Bowl through Lot C, entering at Monroe and Hilliard streets or Pelham and Hilliard streets: $50 with power, $40 without. Space was limited.

Stadium rules

From the bowl’s stadium page:

  • Clear bags only, no larger than 12 by 12 inches. Small backpacks, purses and diaper bags must meet the same rule.
  • No outside food or drinks; no cans, bottles, coolers, fireworks, horns or whistles.
  • No umbrellas, no metal flag poles and no video cameras. Cameras with lenses 12 inches or shorter are allowed, without cases.

Game week

At the 2025 game, Fan Fest opened at 4 p.m. at Paterson Field, with team pep rallies before kickoff, according to the bowl’s event schedule. The bowl also honors an Alabama football legend each year at a luncheon on the Friday before the game. The bowl says it will post the 2026 schedule later in the year.

Past results

The bowl says 11 of its first 12 games were decided by one score.

Date Result
Dec. 20, 2014 Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28
Dec. 19, 2015 Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29
Dec. 17, 2016 Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28
Dec. 16, 2017 Middle Tennessee 35, Arkansas State 30
Dec. 15, 2018 Georgia Southern 23, Eastern Michigan 21
Dec. 21, 2019 Arkansas State 34, FIU 26
Dec. 25, 2020 Buffalo 17, Marshall 10
Dec. 25, 2021 Georgia State 51, Ball State 20
Dec. 27, 2022 Buffalo 23, Georgia Southern 21
Dec. 23, 2023 Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19
Dec. 14, 2024 South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23
Dec. 16, 2025 Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13

About Cramton Bowl

Cramton Bowl hosted the first night football game in the South, Cloverdale against Pike Road High School in 1927, according to the bowl’s history page. The stadium was also home to the Blue-Gray Football Classic.

More December plans: holiday lights and Christmas events and the Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Salute to Veterans Bowl?

Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m. Eastern, which is 4:30 p.m. in Montgomery, and the game is on ESPN.

Is the Salute to Veterans Bowl the same as the Camellia Bowl?

Yes. The bowl says the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl was previously known as the Camellia Bowl, which first kicked off at Cramton Bowl on Dec. 20, 2014.

Which teams play in the Salute to Veterans Bowl?

The bowl matches teams from the Mid-American Conference, the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. The 2026 matchup is set when bowl bids go out after the regular season.

When do Salute to Veterans Bowl tickets go on sale?

The bowl said tickets for the 2026 game would go on sale to the general public in October. On Nov. 1 its ticket page still showed only the presale sign-up, military tickets and ticket packages, with no public prices.

Where do I park for the Salute to Veterans Bowl?

At the 2025 game, parking had to be bought ahead of time through the bowl’s ticket link, city shuttles ran from 5 p.m., and tailgating was allowed only in Lot E.