Downtown Bloomington crowds celebrate IU title; police report small fires, minor damage, one arrest

Video by Lisa Wilson for The Bloomingtonian

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — January 20, 2026

Thousands of Indiana University fans flooded the downtown Bloomington area near Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street late Monday night to celebrate the Hoosiers’ national championship victory, creating heavy congestion, according to the Bloomington Police Department.

Capt. Ryan Pedigo said officers, assisted by the Indiana State Police, temporarily blocked intersections after a large group of people walked south on Walnut Street from the Seventh Street area following the end of the game, allowing the crowd to move safely toward Kirkwood Avenue.

Police reported several incidents of property damage and unsafe behavior during the celebration. Pedigo said a few street signs were broken and carried away, and several people climbed onto a rooftop at the northwest corner of the Kirkwood-Dunn intersection.

Two small fires were also reported in the area: a couch was set on fire on Dunn Street just north of Kirkwood, and a recliner was set on fire on Kirkwood Avenue west of Dunn. Pedigo said neither fire threatened nearby structures, and officers worked with the Bloomington Fire Department to get fire crews through the crowd so the flames could be extinguished.

A few businesses in the 400 block of East Kirkwood reported damage to buildings, though police said no windows were broken and there were no reports of burglaries or looting.

Bloomington police made one arrest during the celebration — an operating while intoxicated arrest in a nearby alley, Pedigo said.

The Indiana State Police monitored the crowd and downtown area using a helicopter, Pedigo said, with a Bloomington officer onboard to help coordinate between agencies. Pedigo thanked the Indiana State Police, Bloomington Fire Department, Monroe Fire Protection District, Bloomington Transit and the city’s Public Works Department for support, along with downtown businesses that removed outdoor furniture to reduce the risk of damage or fire.

“We also sincerely appreciate the downtown businesses that removed outside furniture and worked to make sure that nothing was left outside that could be used to injure others or set on fire,” Pedigo said. “And last but certainly not least, we appreciate the Hoosier fans that celebrated without destroying property or creating dangerous situations.”

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