These are the dates for the major U.S. college, high school and all-star cheerleading championships of the 2026-27 season. Each date comes from the organizer’s own event page, which is linked in the table. Event details, schedules and divisions can change, so check the official page before you book travel.
2026-27 Championship Dates
| Dates | Championship | Level | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 15–17, 2027 | UCA College Nationals | College | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
| Jan. 16–17, 2027 | JAMfest Cheer Super Nationals | All star | Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana | Official page |
| Jan. 22–25, 2027 | NCA High School Nationals | High school | Fort Worth, Texas | Official page |
| Jan. 29–31, 2027 | UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC), Division II | High school | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
| Feb. 4–7, 2027 | UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC), Division I | High school | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
| Feb. 12–14, 2027 | CHEERSPORT National All Star Cheerleading Championship | All star | Atlanta, Georgia | Official page |
| March 13–14, 2027 | UCA All Star National Championship | All star | Orlando, Florida | Official page |
| March 19–21, 2027 | NCA All-Star National Championship | All star | Houston, Texas | Official page |
| April 8–10, 2027 | NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship (College Nationals) | College | Daytona Beach, Florida | Official page |
| April 21–23, 2027 | ICU Junior World & World Cheerleading Championships | National teams | Orlando, Florida | Official page |
| April 23–26, 2027 | The Cheerleading Worlds | All star (by bid) | Venue not yet listed on the official site | Official page |
| April 29–May 2, 2027 | The Summit | All star (by bid) | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
| May 6–7, 2027 | The Small Gym Summit (new in 2027) | All star | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
| May 7–9, 2027 | The D2 Summit | All star (by bid) | Walt Disney World Resort, Florida | Official page |
College Championships
College teams have two national championships. UCA College Nationals takes place in January at Walt Disney World Resort. NCA & NDA College Nationals takes place in April in Daytona Beach. Each program chooses which championship to attend. If you’re trying out for a college team, the program’s tryout guide usually says which championship it competes at. See our College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory.
High School Championships
The UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) runs in two parts at Walt Disney World Resort: Division II from January 29 to 31, 2027, and Division I from February 4 to 7, 2027. NCA High School Nationals takes place in Fort Worth, Texas, from January 22 to 25, 2027.
All-Star Championships and Bids
All-star season builds toward the end-of-season championships. The Cheerleading Worlds (April 23–26, 2027) and The Summit championships are bid events: teams qualify by earning a bid at an earlier competition, such as NCA All-Star Nationals. Bid rules differ by event and division, so check each championship’s bid information with your gym.
Typical Season Timeline
- August–October: choreography, routine building and early-season practice.
- November–December: the competition season begins with regional events.
- January–February: college and high school nationals, plus major all-star events.
- March–April: all-star nationals, NCA & NDA College Nationals and Worlds.
- May: The Summit championships end the all-star season.
- June–July: college tryouts, summer camps and off-season training.
How to Prepare for Competition Season
- Planning Your Cheer Competition Trip: packing and travel.
- Thriving During Cheer Season: time management and staying healthy.
- Keeping Energy High While Performing
- A Simple Warm-Up Routine for competition day.
- Reducing Soreness After Practice and recovery.
- Best Cheerleading Bags for Competition Day
Sources: official event pages from Varsity Spirit (UCA, NCA, JAMfest, CHEERSPORT and Varsity All Star), the International Cheer Union and The Cheerleading Worlds, each linked in the table above. Last checked October 9, 2026.