Project Blackout Sets 2026 Games Across New Hampshire, Massachusetts School Communities

WINDHAM, NH — A nonprofit has released its full 2026 Blackout Childhood Cancer Game schedule, with high school sports communities across New Hampshire and Massachusetts taking part this fall.

Project Blackout said “ONE” is its theme for its 2026 campaign, which begins during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and centers on uniting participating towns and schools around childhood cancer awareness.

According to Project Blackout, the games are intended to raise awareness and support local children and research efforts at Boston Children’s and Dartmouth Health Children’s. The organization said this year’s campaign is focused on bringing participating communities together as “one team, one shirt, one mission, one goal … to end childhood cancer.”

Project Blackout started in Windham and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It works to unite athletes, school communities and towns by honoring local families affected by childhood cancer at Blackout games and related fundraising and awareness events. The group also said the Northeast has the highest pediatric cancer rates in the United States, citing the AACR.

This year’s schedule includes football, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer and volleyball events.

The first game was Bishop Guertin vs. Exeter on Thursday.

Upcoming football games listed by Project Blackout are Malden Catholic vs. Westwood on Sept. 25, Windham vs. Salem on Sept. 25, Pelham vs. ConVal on Oct. 2, and Alvirne vs. Salem on Oct. 16.

Proceeds from T-shirt sales, sponsors, online donations, and school- and team-driven activities support pediatric cancer research and selected charities that help local children battling cancer and their families. Project Blackout reported its 2025 campaign honored two dozen local families and donated $140,000 to charities supporting local children in treatment and childhood cancer units at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dartmouth Health Children’s.

The 2025 effort also brought childhood cancer awareness to more than 90 towns and school communities through six Blackout football games and more than 30 Blackout games in other varsity high school sports and youth athletics organizations. The group said it has now reached tens of thousands of people across more than 90 New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities and donated more than $500,000 for pediatric cancer awareness, research and support.

Project Blackout said it will continue to post full details on games, upcoming events, and other ways to support the campaign on its Facebook page and website.