2026 in Michigan

Decades:	2000s; 2010s; 2020s;
See also:	History of Michigan; Historical outline of Michigan; List of years in Michigan; 2026 in the United States;

This article reviews 2026 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, performance of its sports teams and athletes, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and a list of notable Michigan-related deaths.

Office holders

Sports

Baseball

American football

Basketball

Ice hockey

Events

January

January 19 – A snowstorm causes a pileup involving 100 cars in Zeeland Charter Township.
January 23 – A car drives through an entrance at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, injuring six people. The driver is taken into custody.

March

March 6 – A tornado forms near Three Rivers, causing significant damage in Union City and other parts of St Joseph County. Four people are killed.
March 12 – Temple Israel synagogue attack: A man rams a vehicle into a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, injuring a security guard, before killing himself. Explosives are found in the back of the vehicle.
March 28 – The Grand Valley State Lakers beat the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks 72–49 to win the 2026 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament, their second straight title.

April

April 6 – The Michigan Wolverines beat the UConn Huskies 69–63 to win the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game. It is Michigan's second title and their first since 1989.
April 9
- The Women's National Basketball Association announces an expansion team in Detroit, set to begin play in 2029.
- The Trump administration sues Washtenaw County over its ICE policies. The policies bar the county from sharing information with ICE and bar agents from being on county property.

May

May 6 – The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announces an expansion team in Detroit, set to begin play in the 2026–27 season.
May 21 – The State House passes a bill that would allow Mackinac Island to control all aspects of ferry service to and from the island. The bill advances over a fare dispute between Mackinac Island and the private company that operates the only ferries to the island. The cities of St. Ignace and Mackinaw oppose the bill, as it allows Mackinac Island to control the price of ferry parking in their cities.

June

June 10 – Gaza war protests at universities: Federal prosecutors charge eight pro-Palestinian activists with conspiring to intimidate officials at the University of Michigan over the school's financial ties to Israel.

July

July 15–17 – 2026 Canadian wildfires: Smoke from wildfires pushes air quality across Michigan into the hazardous range.
July 20 – A state appeals court tosses out convictions for two men convicted of plotting to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. The court-overturned convictions were for providing material support for terrorism, with the court writing that kidnapping is not a felony that can support a conviction under Michigan's terrorism laws.
July 24 – A Grand Haven man fatally shoots his wife and six children before setting the house on fire and killing himself.
July 27 – The Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario opens for traffic.

August

August 1 – The state of Michigan reports cyberattacks on nine water systems. The cyberattacks are reported days after Minnesota reported similar cyberattacks.
August 4 – Primary elections are held for multiple races.
- Abdul El-Sayed beats Representative Haley Stevens to win the U.S. Senate Democratic primary.
- Thomas Smith wins the Republican primary in U.S. House District 8, despite having dropped out and endorsed another candidate. Smith wins over Trump-endorsed candidate Amir Hassan.
August 14 – A man kills five people and injures one in a series of shootings across several locations in Missaukee County.

September

September 17 – An F-16 plane crashes in Green Lake Township. The pilot ejects before the crash and is treated at a hospital.
September 20 – A man from Guatemala is killed in a crash while fleeing ICE agents in Grand Rapids.
September 27 – Three people are killed and four injured in a shooting following an argument at an after-hours strip club in Detroit.

Scheduled

November 3 -
- 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election: Candidates include Mike Duggan (I), Jocelyn Benson (D), Garlin Gilchrist (D), John James (R), and Tom Leonard (R). Incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term limited.
- 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan: Gary Peters (D) is up for reelection. Mike Rogers is the leading Republican candidate.

References

↑ Rego, Max (January 19, 2026). "Winter weather causes 100-car pileup in Michigan". The Hill. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
↑ "Car crashes into Detroit-area airport entrance, injuring 6". The Associated Press. January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
↑ Collins, Dave; Karnowski, Steve; Householder, Mike (March 7, 2026). "Authorities search debris after suspected tornadoes kill 6 in Michigan, Oklahoma". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
↑ Voyles Pulver, Dinah (March 6, 2026). "A tornado in southern Michigan reportedly wreaks 'significant damage'". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
↑ "Suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Detroit-area synagogue, sheriff says". USA Today. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
↑ Karnoski, Daver (April 3, 2026). "Grand Valley women's basketball claims second straight national championship". The Mining Gazette. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
↑ Nadkarni, Nohan (April 6, 2026). "Michigan defeats UConn 69-63 to win first men's NCAA basketball title since 1989". NBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
↑ "WNBA and NBA Board of Governors Approve WNBA Expansion Teams". WNBA. April 9, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
↑ Pair, Jordyn (April 10, 2026). "Trump administration sues Washtenaw County over ICE policies". Michigan Live. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
↑ "PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE EXPANDS TO DETROIT". PWHL. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
↑ Carpenter, Blace; Hinkley, Justin A. (May 22, 2026). "Michigan lawmakers give Mackinac Island control of ferry rates. Neighbors aren't happy". The Associated Press. Bridge Michigan. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
↑ White, Ed (June 10, 2026). "Feds charge 8 pro-Palestinian activists with conspiring to intimidate U of Michigan officials". The Associated Press. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
↑ "Canadian wildfire smoke pushes Michigan air quality into hazardous range". Manistee News Advocate. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
↑ "2 more convictions thrown out in 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan governor". The Associated Press. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
↑ Romero, Dennis (July 28, 2026). "Dad fatally shot his wife and 6 kids before setting their Michigan home on fire and killing himself, authorities say". NBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑ Dunbar, Marina (July 25, 2026). "Eight family members found dead in Michigan fire, some with gunshot wounds". The Guardian. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
↑ Becken, Bob (July 28, 2026). "He didn't just watch the Gordie Howe bridge rise — he kind of grew up beside it". CBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
↑ Casey, Michael (August 1, 2026). "FBI investigates as Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on its water systems". The Associated Press. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
↑ "Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Democratic Senate primary". CNN. August 4, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
↑ Piper, Jessica; Howard, Andrew (August 5, 2026). "Trump-backed candidate in battleground Michigan district loses to opponent who dropped out". Politico. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
↑ "5 killed and suspect dead in incident in Michigan". The Associated Press. August 14, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.
↑ Martinez, Luis; Deliso, Meredith (September 17, 2026). "Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan, sparking hourslong evacuation". ABC News. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
↑ Williams, Jalen (September 22, 2026). "Man dead after fleeing ICE agents in Grand Rapids". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
↑ "3 people are killed and 4 are injured in shooting at Detroit after-hours strip club, police say". The Associated Press. September 27, 2026. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
↑ "Michigan Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin". 270toWin.com. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
↑ "These are the candidates running for Michigan's open Senate seat in 2026". The Michigan Independent. June 6, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.

[1] Rego, Max (January 19, 2026). "Winter weather causes 100-car pileup in Michigan". The Hill. Retrieved January 19, 2026.

[2] "Car crashes into Detroit-area airport entrance, injuring 6". The Associated Press. January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026.

[3] Collins, Dave; Karnowski, Steve; Householder, Mike (March 7, 2026). "Authorities search debris after suspected tornadoes kill 6 in Michigan, Oklahoma". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 7, 2026.

[4] Voyles Pulver, Dinah (March 6, 2026). "A tornado in southern Michigan reportedly wreaks 'significant damage'". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2026.

[5] "Suspect dead after ramming vehicle into Detroit-area synagogue, sheriff says". USA Today. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.

[6] Karnoski, Daver (April 3, 2026). "Grand Valley women's basketball claims second straight national championship". The Mining Gazette. Retrieved April 5, 2026.

[7] Nadkarni, Nohan (April 6, 2026). "Michigan defeats UConn 69-63 to win first men's NCAA basketball title since 1989". NBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2026.

[8] "WNBA and NBA Board of Governors Approve WNBA Expansion Teams". WNBA. April 9, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.

[9] Pair, Jordyn (April 10, 2026). "Trump administration sues Washtenaw County over ICE policies". Michigan Live. Retrieved April 11, 2026.

[10] "PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE EXPANDS TO DETROIT". PWHL. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.

[11] Carpenter, Blace; Hinkley, Justin A. (May 22, 2026). "Michigan lawmakers give Mackinac Island control of ferry rates. Neighbors aren't happy". The Associated Press. Bridge Michigan. Retrieved May 26, 2026.

[12] White, Ed (June 10, 2026). "Feds charge 8 pro-Palestinian activists with conspiring to intimidate U of Michigan officials". The Associated Press. Retrieved June 11, 2026.

[13] "Canadian wildfire smoke pushes Michigan air quality into hazardous range". Manistee News Advocate. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.

[14] "2 more convictions thrown out in 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan governor". The Associated Press. July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.

[15] Romero, Dennis (July 28, 2026). "Dad fatally shot his wife and 6 kids before setting their Michigan home on fire and killing himself, authorities say". NBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.

[16] Dunbar, Marina (July 25, 2026). "Eight family members found dead in Michigan fire, some with gunshot wounds". The Guardian. Retrieved July 25, 2026.

[17] Becken, Bob (July 28, 2026). "He didn't just watch the Gordie Howe bridge rise — he kind of grew up beside it". CBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.

[18] Casey, Michael (August 1, 2026). "FBI investigates as Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on its water systems". The Associated Press. Retrieved August 2, 2026.

[19] "Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Democratic Senate primary". CNN. August 4, 2026. Retrieved August 5, 2026.

[20] Piper, Jessica; Howard, Andrew (August 5, 2026). "Trump-backed candidate in battleground Michigan district loses to opponent who dropped out". Politico. Retrieved August 5, 2026.

[21] "5 killed and suspect dead in incident in Michigan". The Associated Press. August 14, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026.

[22] Martinez, Luis; Deliso, Meredith (September 17, 2026). "Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes in Michigan, sparking hourslong evacuation". ABC News. Retrieved September 18, 2026.

[23] Williams, Jalen (September 22, 2026). "Man dead after fleeing ICE agents in Grand Rapids". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 22, 2026.

[24] "3 people are killed and 4 are injured in shooting at Detroit after-hours strip club, police say". The Associated Press. September 27, 2026. Retrieved September 27, 2026.

[25] "Michigan Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin". 270toWin.com. Retrieved December 24, 2025.

[26] "These are the candidates running for Michigan's open Senate seat in 2026". The Michigan Independent. June 6, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.