Homecoming

Vietnamese military doctors have returned home from South Sudan, completing their tour with a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The medical personnel served as part of Vietnam's contribution of field hospital staff to the UN Mission in South Sudan, providing care in one of the world's most fragile regions. Their homecoming is being celebrated on Vietnamese media as a point of national pride.

Disney has hired Jon Watts, director of the Spider-Man: Homecoming trilogy, to helm the first film in a new Star Wars trilogy set in the Skywalker saga era. The announcement drew widespread coverage across entertainment outlets, with fans weighing in on whether Watts can repeat his Marvel success in the Star Wars universe.

Surfer Kanoa Igarashi, who competed for Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held near his family's home region, is preparing for what would be a second Olympic homecoming when surfing returns at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, close to his California roots. The Japanese-American surfer says he is now entering his prime competitive years as he builds toward the event.

Spain beat Croatia 4-1 in Seville in a UEFA Nations League match, with teenager Lamine Yamal the standout performer. The Barcelona winger scored and broke a record previously held by Raul, achieving what no European player had managed in 66 years. The result forms part of Spain's World Cup homecoming celebrations, and outlets worldwide are hailing Yamal as the game's new star.

A unit of Vietnamese peacekeepers has arrived back in Vietnam after completing a one-year deployment with the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. The returning personnel served as part of Vietnam's growing contribution to international peacekeeping operations. Vietnamese state media reported the homecoming, highlighting the country's continued participation in UN missions abroad and the experience gained by its troops during the deployment.

Vietnamese peacekeepers deployed with the United Nations mission in South Sudan have arrived back in Vietnam, greeted by emotional, tearful reunions with family members. The personnel had served as part of Vietnam's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, and the homecoming has drawn attention to the country's growing role in international peacekeeping missions.

Spain defeated Croatia in a UEFA Nations League match that drew worldwide attention. Lamine Yamal scored twice, including a goal described as a 'work of art' built from 26 touches in 70 seconds, and set a 106-year international record as Spain celebrated its World Cup homecoming. Mikel Oyarzabal also featured prominently, while Luka Modric was left out of Croatia's starting line-up. The match is trending in searches across Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Alabama State University will host a homecoming fashion show titled 'Evolution of a Hornet', celebrating the style and heritage of the university community. The event is part of the school's homecoming festivities, drawing attention from students, alumni and supporters ahead of the celebration. Further details about the lineup and participants have not yet been announced.

Auburn University held its Gameday Physics event before the Homecoming kickoff, drawing hundreds of attendees for science demonstrations tied to the football celebrations. The university is highlighting the outreach as a way to bring physics to a broad public audience during one of its biggest game days of the season.

The US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba has returned to its home port in Portsmouth, Virginia, after a deployment in which its crew seized more than a reported haul of illicit contraband, typically narcotics interdicted at sea. The homecoming marks the end of the patrol, with the Coast Guard highlighting the crew's interdiction work in support of counter-smuggling operations.

The first elements of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group have returned home, marking the beginning of the end for the group's extended deployment. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships had been operating abroad on an extended tour. The homecoming brings relief and reunion for sailors' families, with more units expected to return in the coming weeks.

A side-by-side comparison of homecoming fashion from last year versus this year is drawing attention, with this year's styles described as a clear step up — 'drab to fab'. The item highlights how trends in formal teen wear, from silhouettes to colours, have shifted over just twelve months, prompting discussion about what is driving the change in homecoming style.

The book "A Snake at My Shoulder" is set to be showcased at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, where it will be promoted with a haunting homecoming theme and a free book giveaway for attendees. The announcement highlights the title's planned presence at one of the world's largest publishing events, drawing attention to its story and offering copies to fair visitors.

Howard Payne University's theatre department will stage 'The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical' as part of the university's Homecoming celebrations. The production, based on Rick Riordan's popular Percy Jackson novels, is scheduled to run during Homecoming weekend, giving students, alumni and local audiences a family-friendly show tied to the festivities. Performance dates, ticket details and casting information have been announced through the university's theatre department.

Musicians who grew up in Sacramento are playing the Aftershock festival, describing the date as a homecoming show. The event brings rock and metal acts to the city each year, and for hometown artists it offers a chance to perform in front of family, friends and a local crowd that watched them come up. Local coverage is highlighting the personal significance of returning to their home region on a major festival stage.

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission have returned to Houston after completing their flight around the Moon, the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. The crew's homecoming to Johnson Space Center marks the end of the mission phase, as attention shifts to analysis of the flight and preparations for future Artemis landings.

A Howelsen Homecoming event is being organized to raise money for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, one of the oldest running ski clubs in the United States based at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The fundraiser highlights continued community support for youth winter sports programs, including skiing and snowboarding, at the historic hill.

A paralyzed dog with a large online following has been discharged from the hospital and returned home after an extended stay for treatment. Fans who have tracked the dog's health updates on social media are celebrating the news, with many expressing relief that the long-awaited homecoming has finally happened.

Harristown Foursquare Church has announced it will hold its Homecoming Sunday celebration on October 4, 2026. The event, noted in local news out of Decatur, Illinois, is a traditional gathering that typically brings current and former members together for worship and fellowship. Details about the program, speakers, or meal have not yet been released.

Colorado State's men's basketball team will hold a scrimmage as part of the university's Homecoming festivities, giving fans a free early look at the roster ahead of the new season. The event is billed as a family-friendly campus celebration, with the team expected to sign autographs and interact with supporters after the on-court action.