2026 Residence Halls Fall Move-In Highlights

While it wasn’t always dry — whether due to rain or tears — 2026’s UW–Madison Residence Halls move-in was definitely memorable. Nearly 9,000 students moved into 19 residence halls across campus over the course of about a week. They came from all 72 Wisconsin state counties, all 50 U.S. states plus four districts/territories, and 78 countries/regions around the world. We (and a certain rascally Badger mascot) were so happy to welcome them and their families to #LiveWithBucky!

View All Move-In Photos

Day 1

Wednesday, August 26

A group of five Residence Life staff and House Fellows pose in an elevator lobby
Desk Services staff answer a question from a person
A student and her Mom pose
A person sitting with four suitcases in front of them

A House Fellow answers a question from a person in an elevator lobby
Two people putting cardboard into a container in the background with a sign reading "Recycling" in the foreground
Five Human Resources staff sit at a table while a person hands them an ID card
Staff standing next to a vehicle talking about parking
A person flashes the peace sign with their hand while pushing a red moving cart
A person carrying two bags

Day 2

Saturday, August 29

House Fellows talk to people at a table about Welcome House Meetings
Three Badger Buddies pose behind red moving carts
Bucky Badger and four Badger Buddies dancing
Bucky Badger poses with Housing Facilities staff helping with parking
Bucky poses with parents and a student while making the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger poses while sitting down with two parents who are giving the thumbs up sign with their hands
A person taking a selfie with Bucky Badger
Bucky Badger pushes a person in a red moving cart

A person carrying mattresses and a mattress pad
Bucky Badger sitting on the grass looking at a large inflatable version of himself
A person putting together shelving
A student smiles at the camera while unpacking in their room
Two people reflected in a makeup mirror on a desk while unpacking
A person putting a leg on a futon
A person hammering a nail into a wall with a sign that reads "What's the best that could happen" in the foreground
A person using a screwdriver to install screws in a bookshelf

Day 3

Sunday, August 30

Bucky Badger poses with a large group of people while they all make the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger poses with two people sitting on the floor while making the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger poses with a student and their parents
Bucky Badger poses while pointing at the camera with a person wearing a red Bucky vest
Bucky Badger poses with four people with one making the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger poses with two people while sitting at a table in a dining room
Bucky Badger poses with a group of five people while they all make the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger points at a phone while a group of four people take a selfie with him at a table in a dining room
Bucky Badger poses with a Residence Life Coordinator
Bucky Badger poses behind red moving carts with two parents
A person pushing a red moving cart through the archway with the words "Tripp Hall" on top
Bucky Badger poses with a student and their parents
Two parents carrying bags into a building
Staff talking about parking next to a vehicle while holding a clipboard and pen
A person unloading a backpack from the tailgate of a vehicle into a red moving cart with green leaves in the foreground

Day 4

Monday, August 31

Two House Fellows give the thumbs up sign to the camera
Four people walking behind a red moving cart
Bucky Badger makes the letter "W" with his hands while sitting on a bed posing with two students
A student takes a selfie with Bucky Badger
Bucky Badger sits at a table and works on a map of the world puzzle with two students
Bucky Badger and a student sitting at a table while looking at a laptop
A group of six people take a selfie with Bucky Badger while he points at the phone
Bucky Badger and two people pose while sitting on a bench
Bucky Badger and a Dad pose while putting together a bookshelf
Bucky Badger and two students pose and make the letter "W" with their hands while siting on a futon
Bucky Badger sits in a red moving cart while posing with three people by making the letter "W" with their hands
Bucky Badger makes the letter "W" with his hands while sitting in a red moving cart with two people standing next to him
Two people smile while pushing a red moving cart
Two parents hugging their child