The Buffalo Bills will hold their 2026 training camp at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, with seven open practices scheduled from July 29 to August 7 — a reduction from the 11 practices held in 2025 and 2024. The team announced the schedule on June 16, 2026, marking the 25th year of its partnership with the university, which extended through 2028. Tickets will be distributed via a public lottery and a season-ticket presale, with demand expected to remain high.
Why the Bills cut practices — and what it means for Rochester
This year’s training camp will feature just seven open practices, down from 11 in 2024 and 2025. The reduction reflects a broader NFL trend of teams consolidating offseason work, but for the Bills, it also underscores their commitment to maintaining their tradition in Rochester. As General Manager Brandon Beane explained in 2024, the team values the “team chemistry, bonding, and focus” that comes from training away from Orchard Park, despite the decline in teams adopting this practice.
“We really enjoy the setup there. We think it’s important to our team. Even though it’s a dying breed of teams that like to go away, and we love our facilities here, we feel it provides such an important element of team chemistry, bonding, a real focus for everyone for how to prepare our team for a long season.”
The decision to shorten the camp aligns with the Bills’ recent offseason moves. The team signed a three-year extension with St. John Fisher in October 2024, ensuring their presence in Rochester through 2028. Bills Executive Vice President Pete Guelli called the partnership “one of the longest-running off-site training camp traditions in the NFL,” emphasizing its role in connecting the team with fans. “Rochester will always be an important part of Bills Mafia,” he said.
Ticket demand and how to get in
With limited seating at St. John Fisher, the Bills will use a public lottery for general admission tickets, open from June 24 to June 26. Fans can request up to four tickets, though availability is not guaranteed. Season ticket holders will have first access to a presale on June 24 at 10 a.m., with each account limited to six tickets. Winners must accept their tickets within 72 hours of notification to secure their spots.
The Bills also announced that the highly anticipated Return of the Blue & Red practice — a fan favorite — will move to their new Highmark Stadium on August 8, the first event there since its opening. This shift reflects the team’s evolving relationship with Rochester, balancing tradition with the need for larger-scale events at their home facility.
What’s at stake for the Bills in 2026
The shortened training camp schedule comes as the Bills prepare for a critical season under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Injuries to key players like safety Cole Bishop (knee) and linebacker Dorian Williams (lower-body) have created uncertainty about their readiness for camp, which begins July 29. Bishop, a standout in 2025 with 85 tackles, underwent offseason surgery, while Williams’ absence has opened the door for rookie Kaleb Elarms-Orr to compete for a starting role.
Adding to the defensive depth, the Bills signed free agents C.J. Gardner-Johnson (one-year, up to $6 million) and Geno Stone (one-year, $1.4 million) in March. Gardner-Johnson, now paired with Bishop, will need to gel quickly with the team’s veteran safety. Meanwhile, Williams’ return — or lack thereof — could determine whether Elarms-Orr secures a full-time role or if the Bills pursue a veteran free agent like Matt Milano or Shaq Thompson.
A tradition under pressure — and why it matters
The Bills’ training camp in Rochester has been a cornerstone of their offseason routine since 2000, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The 25-year partnership with St. John Fisher is a rarity in the NFL, where most teams now prefer the convenience of training at their home facilities. Yet, the Bills’ insistence on the tradition speaks to its cultural significance — not just for the team, but for the city of Rochester.
For Bills fans, training camp is more than football — it’s a celebration of community. The public practices draw thousands of supporters, and the team’s presence in Rochester fuels local businesses, hotels, and tourism. As the Bills prepare for another season, the shortened camp schedule may test the tradition’s staying power. But with the extension secured through 2028, the partnership’s future appears stable — for now.
What happens next: Camp, preseason, and beyond
With training camp set to begin July 29, the Bills will focus on evaluating rookies, recovering from injuries, and refining their game plan under Leonhard. The preseason will offer the first glimpse of the team in action at Highmark Stadium, with fans eager to see how the new facility handles live football. Beyond that, the regular season looms — and with it, the Bills’ quest to return to the Super Bowl.
For now, the quiet offseason continues. As one Bills observer put it, “no news is good news” — a sentiment shared by fans hoping to avoid the kind of offseason surprises that derailed past seasons. But with injuries, roster competition, and a new defensive scheme on the horizon, the next six weeks will set the tone for 2026.
One thing is certain: Whether it’s seven practices or 11, the Bills’ training camp in Rochester remains a defining part of their identity. And for now, that’s enough.
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