Cal Poly Rose Float Seeks Design Ideas for 2026 Rose Parade Entry
Contact: Josh D’Acquisto
805-756-1182; jdacquis@calpoly.edu
Deadline for conception submissions for the 137th Rose Parade® is Feb. 5
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly Rose Float is hoping you might be lucky as college students seek design ideas for their entry in next year’s 137th Rose Parade®.
There is no limit to the number of entries an individual can submit. The Rose Float leadership team — comprising about 60 students, equally split from Cal Poly and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona — will review the submissions and vote on the winning concept for the team’s entry.
The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5.
The Cal Poly Rose Float is the only student-built float in the Rose Parade and has been invited to participate for 77 consecutive years.
The lucky entry will provide the basis for the 2026 final design, which will roll down the 5.5-mile-long parade route Jan. 1, 2026. The float will be showcased in front of a crowd of 700,000 Pasadena parade goers and an international television audience in the tens of millions — just as this year when Cal Poly universities’ “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs” float, depicting Scotland’s most camera-averse underwater mystic on its best day, earned the Leishman Public Spirit Award.
If that’s not reward enough, the winner will also have a choice between $500 or a pair of tickets to the 2026 Rose Parade®.
The 2026 theme will not be released until Feb. 4; however, for those entities that encourage early float concept submissions, the Tournament of Roses released a sneak peek video and offers this hint:
“The 2026 theme will celebrate the special bond that happens when people come together to work toward a common goal. It will honor everyday collaborations achieved by people of all ages, from groups that have worked together for many years to newly formed alliances. We will salute the synergy and cohesion present in schools and professional environments, where working together may seem like a daily routine but those collaborations can produce remarkable results.”
Completed submissions must be emailed to calpolyrosefloat1949@gmail.com with the subject line “2026 Concept.” Submissions can be color or black and white; must be no larger than 11 by 17 inches; and must include the applicant’s name, phone number and email.
Designs should only be submitted to Cal Poly Rose Float and will become property of such once received.
For questions or more information, contact: Josh D’Acquisto at jdacquis@calpoly.edu or 805-756-1182 or Cary Khatab at 909-869-3204 or kkhatab@cpp.edu.
Follow Cal Poly Rose Float Facebook, Rose Float Instagram and Rose Float on X (formerly Twitter) for news and contest updates.
About Cal Poly
Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 22,000 top-tier students come to Cal Poly to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in areas such as engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on approach, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from Day One to impact their communities, California and the world. www.calpoly.edu
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that hosts America’s New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential, and a variety of accompanying events. More than 900 volunteer members of the association drove the success of 136th Rose Parade themed “Best Day Ever!” presented by Honda, followed by the 111th Rose Bowl Game, presented by Prudential. Visit tournamentofroses.com for more information.
Top Photo: Cal Poly universities’ “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs” float, depicting Scotland’s most camera-averse underwater mystic on its best day, earned the Leishman Public Spirit Award at the 136th Rose Parade® held New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California.
Photo by Tom Zasadzinski | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
