Regatta, IU Indianapolis’ homecoming tradition, will be held in the Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the canal at Military Park This event includes canoe racing competition, live entertainment, food and festival activities.
Upon arrival, participants can stop by the information tent for help or a wristband which they need to play games. Canoe races start at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Regatta will also have student performances throughout the day, food trucks, festival games, contests and tables from student organizations and campus partners.
Regatta celebrates its 18th anniversary this year. A tradition which initially started with the goals of bringing the community together and student success.Proceeds from Regatta support the Stefan S. Davis and Regatta Royalty scholarships, which all Regatta student organizers receive.
“Regatta is such a special event for the IU Indianapolis students and community. As the homecoming event for our campus, it is a unique opportunity to get involved and show school spirit,” said Jennah Jones, executive director of communications at IU Indianapolis.
A committee of 17 student leaders led by Joanna Santamaria Vilchis, the 2026 Regatta executive director, spent nine months planning this year’s event. The committee kept Regatta’s traditions and added new ones.
New this year are food trucks including Stadium on Wheels, Porkopolis and a Coke float truck serving free Coke floats with vanilla ice cream, said Jones.
Regatta is also introducing a photo challenge. Participants who post photos of their Regatta experience and send them to Regatta’s Instagram account can win free IU and Regatta merchandise. The Regatta committee will assign two winners on Instagram.
Several events lead up to Regatta. Jagathon and Regatta will host their annual Battleship event from 8 to 10 p.m. Sept. 22 at the IU Natatorium. The Student Activities Programming Board and Regatta will host “Flick N’ Float” from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Natatorium.Housing and Residence Life will host “S’mores and Oars” from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25 at Campus Recreation Outdoor Facility.
“Every new student should experience Regatta at least once, whether they are a freshman or a new graduate student. It's specific to this campus, and it's one of the easiest ways to feel part of the community outside the classroom,” said Adham Mahmoud, a doctoral student in computer science at IU Indianapolis and Regatta’s team leader of Floating Point.“ It’s also not just a race. The canal fills up with activities, information tables, and student organizations, so it's a chance to meet new people and find out what is really out there.”
The full schedule is on the IU Indianapolis Division of Student Affairs’ Regatta guide.
Cristina Bueno is a senior double majoring in anthropology and journalism and is a writer for The Campus Citizen. She is passionate about reporting challenging stories and making a difference in the world.
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