After a successful Kansas Shrine Bowl this past June, the event is set to return to Emporia soon.
The Kansas Shrine Bowl and Emporia State University announced Tuesday a multi-year partnership to host the annual East vs. West All-Star Game in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The games will take place on the fourth Saturday in June with dates on June 27, 2026, June 26, 2027, and June 24, 2028.
Kansas Shrine Bowl Executive Director Brice Kesler says several factors, including the facilities at Emporia State and the city’s centralized location, made it the home for the event during the next three of the four years.
Kesler says Tuesday’s announcement was the right timing to make it happen, with all the pieces being put together with Emporia State, Visit Emporia, and the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Prior to this past June, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has been in Emporia on five previous occasions, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. The 2024 Kanas Shrine Bowl held in Emporia resulted in a $150,000 donation to benefit Shriner’s Children’s the second-largest single-year contribution in the 51 years of history of the organization. Before the Kansas Shrine Bowl returns to Emporia in 2026, the 2025 Kansas Shrine Bowl will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Dodge City.
