SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Aug. 4) – The UC Santa Barbara Men's and Women's Cross Country teams announced their 2026 schedule on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The Gauchos will compete in four regular-season meets before the Big West Championships, NCAA West Regionals, and the National Championships. 

Coming off a year in which both teams climbed multiple spots in the Big West standings and improved their finishes at the NCAA West Regional Championships, the Gauchos look to carry that momentum going into 2026. 

The Blue and Gold will open the season at home with the second annual Gaucho Twilight. Hosted at the Mission Club Golf Course in Lompoc, California. UCSB will welcome Cal Poly and Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, Sept. 3. 

One week later, Santa Barbara will compete in the Kim Duyst Invite in Ceres, California. Later that month, the Gauchos will head to Illinois for the first time in program history as they take part in the Chicago Lakefront hosted by Loyola Chicago on Friday, Sept. 25. 

Two weeks before the Big West Championships, Santa Barbara will preview the conference course at the Highlander Invitational in Riverside on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Gauchos will return to Riverside on Saturday, October 31 to determine final conference standings for the 2026 season.

Should they qualify, the Gauchos will compete at the NCAA West Regional Championships on Nov. 13 in Sacramento. The National Championships will follow one week later on Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Indiana. 

To follow along with the team throughout the season, visit ucsbgauchos.com or follow the team on social media @ucsbtfxc.