Big Blue Move-in brings excitement, emotion, new beginnings
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2026) — The University of Kentucky is welcoming more than 8,500 new and returning Wildcats to their residence halls this week. Nearly 90% of incoming first-year students will be living on campus.
The majority of the students coming to campus are participating in Fall 2026 Big Blue Move-in (which began Sunday and runs through this Wednesday), prior to the beginning of K Week, which takes place before classes start Monday, Aug. 24. K Week offers programs and events designed to help incoming freshmen meet new people and learn about UK traditions and resources.
“Move-in was really smooth and everyone was so helpful,” said Maya Johnston, an incoming freshman from Lexington, Kentucky, who moved into Lewis Hall. “I’m so excited to meet so many new people and just get really involved on campus. I can’t wait to room with my best roommate, Ellie.”
Lily Markey, an incoming freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio, who moved into the new Kirwan-Blanding Hall, is also eager to meet new friends and embark on her Wildcat journey.
“I’m most excited about Welcome Week,” Markey said. “What drew me to UK was mostly the campus and how nice it is, but I also really like the engineering program and I’m excited to start in the UK Pigman College of Engineering.”
Big Blue Move-in would not be possible without the help of approximately 700 volunteers — which included students, student organizations, and UK faculty and staff.
“I volunteer every year. I like to see families. I love to introduce myself to students. It’s just a nice way to get out of the office and come out and help,” said Lenzi Dodgen, executive director of UK’s VIP Center. “I really love being able to see their smiling faces. I also know that it’s emotional and a hard day for these families as well. So I hold that duality with them because I know that it’s difficult, and I also know that it’s a very like joyous on celebratory day as well.”
Amy Begley was one of the many parents who experienced the duality of the day, moving her daughter Kylie Castle into Kirwan-Blanding Hall.
“I’m nervous, but excited for her,” Begley said. “I’m excited to watch her grow and bloom and become who she wants to be. I wish for her to have the best experience. Overall, move-in was awesome. Everyone has been amazing and it was really organized.”
Students, parents and volunteers beat the heat courtesy of several hydration stations, provided by Auxiliary Services, UK Sustainability and UK Recycling. The stations provided chilled, filtered water and recyclable paper cups to those participating in move-in.
Find more information about Big Blue Move-In and view the gallery above to see some favorite scenes from this year’s Big Blue Move-in.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.