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Mark Your Calendar for These Texas A&M 150th Celebration Events

It’s Texas A&M University’s 150th anniversary, and Aggieland is going big to mark this milestone moment with a calendar of events you won’t want to miss.

By Lydia Hill '21

Photography provided by Texas A&M Marketing and Communications

On Oct. 4, 1876, state officials gathered in the wild prairielands of the Brazos Valley for an event that would echo in history: the inaugural ceremonies of the state’s first public institution of higher education, The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.

Almost exactly 150 years later, on Oct. 2 this year, officials again gathered in Aggieland, amid the bustling campus and modern city that has long since replaced the lonely prairie. Gathering in Rudder Auditorium, campus leaders reflected on the university’s humble beginnings, its rise to today’s national status of excellence with one of the largest student bodies in the U.S, and its values that have stayed the same through it all.

The event kicked off a week of festivities for Texas A&M University’s 150th Celebration, including a special yell practice and drone show in Kyle Field, speakers and events across campus, and, of course, enough cake to feed a whole host of Aggies. The celebrations will continue throughout the entire 2026-27 academic year, inviting Aggies everywhere to gather, reflect and celebrate 150 years of Texas A&M and its impact on the world.

Sesquicentennial Speaker Series

Date: Oct. 2026-May 2027

Location: Rudder Auditorium

No matter what industry or area you look at, chances are, you’ll find Aggies helping lead the field or shaping its future. The Sesquicentennial Speaker Series will bring some of these Aggies to campus to share about their experiences and to discuss the future of some of today’s biggest topics. Each talk will feature a different subject and speaker lineup, including Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80 in November discussing his Buc-ee’s journey and his vision for the new Aplin Center, a panel of Aggie athletes in November, and a panel of Aggies leading in land, sea and space exploration in the spring. The series kicked off Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. with a talk from Anthony Wood ’87 — inventor, entrepreneur and founder of Roku — about innovation, entrepreneurship and the Aggie experiences that helped shape his path from DVR creator to streaming TV pioneer.
 

Can’t join in-person?

If you can’t make it to campus, you can still join the celebrations through livestreams or event videos on the university’s website, in addition to these university creations:

Texas A&M: 150 Years of Impact

A new six-part series from KAMU traces Texas A&M’s evolution – from the people and moments that shaped Texas A&M to the researchers, public servants and students defining its work today.  Their stories stretch from the university’s beginnings to research labs, hospitals, farms and more. Episodes premiere between October and May and will be available at KAMU.tamu.edu.

“What Endures: A Visual History of Texas A&M University”

Complementary to the exhibit “Here for Good: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas A&M University,” this coffee table book features over 300 pages of images and artifacts from the university archives and other campus collections to tell the story of the university’s history. Purchase at give.am/WhatEndures.

Here for Good: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas A&M University

Date: October 2026-May 2027

Location: J. Wayne Stark Gallery, The Memorial Student Center

Texas A&M is pulling out all the stops for this momentous milestone, including opening the vault of Aggieland’s historical treasures. The “Here for Good” exhibit will feature items from throughout the university’s history, including early cadet uniforms, Texas A&M’s World War I service flag honoring the Aggies who served, sports memorabilia and more, giving visitors a close-up look at some of the physical representatives of the university’s past.

A Legacy Built of Brick and Stone: Remnants of 150 Years at Texas A&M

Date: September 2026-May 2027

Location: Cushing Memorial Library and Archives

If the Stark Gallery exhibit leaves you hungering for more Aggie history, you can step into campus’s past through another exhibit, “A Legacy Built of Brick and Stone.” Organized by the Texas A&M University Libraries, the event will feature architectural elements that have defined the campus landscape through the years, including Prexy’s moon that used to top the Academic Building and a piece of the wooden seating from the original Kyle Field.
 

The Aggie Family Parade invites the public to campus to watch floats, balloons and the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band march through campus before ending at College Station City Hall.

A self-guided walking tour will also be available for visitors to discover more historical tidbits about Texas A&M’s legacy that’s etched in stone.

The Aggie Family Parade

Date/Time: April 10, 2027, 9 a.m.

Location: College Station Campus

Floats, balloons and candy galore will fill campus during Family Weekend for an Aggie parade. Starting at Simpson Drill Field, the parade’s student organizations, campus departments and invited community partners will march through campus and end at College Station City Hall, accompanied by classic Aggie favorites like the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and the First Lady of Aggieland herself.
 

Texas A&M University's anniversary celebrations will wrap up with the Closing Festival April 30-May 1.

Closing Festival

Date: April 30-May 1, 2027

Location: Aggie Park

Wrapping up the festivities in true Aggie style, the Closing Festival invites the public to campus for one last hullaballoo of the year. The event will feature carnival rides, games, live music, food and Aggie merchandise, as well as photo opportunities in Kyle Field, giving Aggies one more opportunity to celebrate all things maroon and white in Texas A&M’s 150th year.

 

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