DURHAM, N.C. (June 1st, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) invites members of the media to attend the 2026 CIAA Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET in Durham, North Carolina at the Hilton Durham (3800 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, North Carolina, 27705).
As the conference prepares for another exciting football season, CIAA Football Media Day will provide media representatives with exclusive access to conference leadership, head coaches, and student athletes from all CIAA football member institutions. The event will offer insight into the upcoming season, preseason storylines, and the opportunity to engage directly with key voices from around the conference.
Media Day serves as the official kickoff to the CIAA football season and continues the conference’s longstanding tradition of celebrating the excellence, history, and future of HBCU athletics.
Event Information
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. ET
Location: Durham, N.C.
Venue: Hilton Durham (3800 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, North Carolina, 27705)
Media representatives planning to attend are encouraged to register in advance.
Registration Deadline: Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Please note that media registration will close on July 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Credentials and attendance requests submitted after the deadline may not be accommodated.
The week’s activities will also include the CIAA® “Live the Legacy” Golf Tournament, taking place Monday, July 13, 2026, at Hillandale Golf Course in Durham. Held in conjunction with Football Media Day, the event will bring together conference leadership, coaches, student athletes, alumni, and supporters for a day centered on fellowship, networking, and celebration of the CIAA’s rich history and tradition.
Teams and individuals are invited to participate in the tournament, which supports initiatives designed to enhance the student athlete experience throughout the conference. Registration is available for $600 per four-person team or $150 per individual participant. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Golf Tournament Information
Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
Location: Hillandale Golf Course | Durham, N.C.
Registration: Register Here
For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, registration, or tournament details, please contact Jessica Incorminias (
JIncorminias@theciaa.com).
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.