LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 18, 2026) — The University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics has announced that Bank of America will serve as the naming partner for the 2026 Econ Games, one of the nation’s leading undergraduate competitions focused on applying economics and data analytics to real-world challenges.
The event will be officially known as The Bank of America 2026 Econ Games.
"At Bank of America, we believe in the power of education to transform communities and create economic opportunity,” said John Gardner, president, Bank of America Kentucky. “Our partnership with the Gatton College of Business and Economics for the 2026 Econ Games underscores our commitment to supporting Kentucky’s academic institutions and the talented students they produce. We look forward to seeing the creative insights and strategic thinking these teams bring to the competition this year."
The 2026 event, hosted by Gatton’s Department of Economics, the Econ Games brings together undergraduate students from universities across the country to analyze large datasets provided by industry partners and develop economic insights and recommendations within a fast-paced competition environment.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Bank of America as the naming partner of the 2026 Econ Games,” said Darshak Patel, professor in the Department of Economics at the Gatton College of Business and Economics and co-founder of the competition. “Partnerships like this are incredibly important because they connect our students with organizations that truly value education, innovation and student success. Bank of America’s support will help us expand opportunities for students to apply their skills, collaborate and engage with real-world economic challenges. We’re grateful for their commitment and look forward to building a strong, long-term relationship that benefits our students and the broader community.”
Each year, The Econ Games challenges student teams to analyze complex datasets and present actionable insights to a panel of judges from academia and industry. The competition emphasizes both technical skills — including data analysis and economic modeling — and professional skills such as teamwork and strategic thinking.
For the 2026 competition, Equibase will serve as the official data sponsor, continuing its partnership with the event by providing real-world industry data for students to analyze during the competition.
The Econ Games were co-founded by faculty at the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University and have grown into a national event attracting student teams from universities across the United States.
The Bank of America 2026 Econ Games will take place at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics in Lexington.
More information about the Econ Games can be found at: https://www.theecongames.com
