As we look ahead, here are three things you should know about Baylor’s work in the coming year.

This fall, Baylor hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation and Baptist Student Ministry for the grand opening of the new Baptist Student Ministries building at Baylor University. 

Here are a few of our favorite longstanding traditions — favorites of alumni and students alike —  and new opportunities for students to build connections, grow personally and prepare to impact the world.

Baylor students and recent graduates continue to be awarded the most prestigious — and highly competitive — scholarships and fellowships for language study, cultural exploration, graduate studies and impactful research. 

At the regular summer meeting in July, Baylor’s Board of Regents welcomed six new members.

On Aug. 3, Baylor’s Center for School Leadership packed thousands of school leaders and educators into the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion to launch the most joyful school year yet at Culture of Joy 2026.

Nearly 75 years after attending Baylor University, country music legend Willie Nelson returned to Waco for a homecoming that fans will remember for years to come.

Just one year after uncovering a rare intact Etruscan chamber tomb in central Italy, a Baylor-led archaeological team has made another remarkable discovery. 

The research-backed sleep challenge described in the TEDx Talk by Baylor Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Scullin, Ph.D., earned the distinction of being recognized as one of the most important contributions toward TED’s “ideas worth spreading.”

From Christmas on 5th on Baylor’s campus to Christmas at the Silos and Waco Wonderland, the Christmas season brings the spirit of the holiday to students, alumni and families throughout Central Texas.

The newly renovated Kokernot Hall debuted this fall, welcoming 159 first-year residents of all majors to its community. 

In 2026, the Baylor Family’s combined support for the University resulted in Baylor’s highest fundraising year: a record-breaking $244.5 million.

The Baylor Line was voted No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports’ 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Walk-Out Tradition, beating 19 other nominees from some of the nation’s most passionate football programs. 

Once again, Baylor’s core curriculum has earned an “A” for the excellence of its core requirements from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s (ACTA) What Will They Learn?® (WWTL) project. 

In January, Baylor announced the naming of the Moody School of Education, made possible by a transformational $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas.