Why Florida–Georgia Is in Atlanta in 2026 Instead of Jacksonville

Florida and Georgia are playing in Atlanta in 2026 because EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is being renovated. The move to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is part of an announced two-season relocation: Atlanta hosts this year, Tampa hosts in 2027, and the rivalry is scheduled to return to Jacksonville for the 2028–31 seasons.

The No. 17 Gators and No. 3 Bulldogs meet Saturday, October 31, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. It is the first time the matchup has been played in Atlanta, according to Georgia’s official game notes, and the first meeting outside Jacksonville since 1995.

Why the game left Jacksonville

The schools and their host-city partners announced the temporary arrangement in November 2024. They connected the 2026 and 2027 venue changes directly to the reconstruction of EverBank Stadium, with Jacksonville’s renovated stadium designated to welcome the game back in 2028.

The agreement preserves a neutral-site fixture during the construction period. Neither 2026 nor 2027 sends the game to a campus stadium. Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin’s statement accompanying the announcement also identified revenue opportunities and the experience available in Atlanta and Tampa as reasons the temporary venues were attractive.

Jacksonville’s current official event page describes the relocation as temporary and directs supporters to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for this year’s game information. It identifies Georgia as the designated home team and Florida as the visiting team.

A familiar rivalry in an unfamiliar setting

The change interrupts a long run in Jacksonville, but the rivalry has left the city for stadium work before. Florida hosted in Gainesville in 1994 and Georgia hosted in Athens in 1995 while the former Gator Bowl was rebuilt for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida’s rivalry history explains.

The teams have played annually since 1926 except in 1943, when Florida did not field a team during World War II. Saturday therefore combines an established annual fixture with a host-city change that has been planned for almost two years. The stadium construction timetable, rather than either team’s recent results, explains why this edition is in Atlanta.

The 2026 game also carries its normal SEC significance. Both teams return from an open date, with Georgia entering 6–1 overall and 4–1 in conference play and Florida 5–2 and 3–2, respectively. TSP’s Week 9 overview places it among the weekend’s ranked matchups.

Saturday’s game and stadium information

Florida’s broadcast announcement confirms ABC’s 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit in the booth and Holly Rowe reporting. The venue is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, not Jacksonville’s EverBank Stadium or Georgia’s Sanford Stadium.

The stadium’s event listing calls the matchup the Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic and lists gates opening at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Supporters attending should use that event page for ticket, parking and transportation information specific to the Atlanta venue.