On Sunday, August 16, UNC students and faculty gathered in the Pit for FallFest, an annual celebration marking the beginning of the academic year. The university marketed the 2026 FallFest as a larger event than previous years, with festivities also taking place at the Carolina Union, Davis Library and Lenoir Dining Hall.

Photographer Elena Pace attended the event to see the sights and capture the celebration. Check out her photo gallery here:

UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC mascots Rameses and Rameses Jr. pose during the celebration the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC mascot Ramses poses during the celebration the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.
UNC students come together to celebrate the start of the school year at the Fall Fest event on UNC campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., on August 16, 2026. Photo by Elena Pace.

 

Featured image via Elena Pace/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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