The American Cheerleaders Association is kicking off the new year in the Lone Star State, as ACA Grand Nationals heads back to Fort Worth, Texas, and the Fort Worth Convention Center in 2026.

Varsity TV will be there to provide live coverage of the event on the final weekend of January, pushed back a few weeks from its mid-January scheduling last year.

Since 1997, the ACA has been providing championship events where every competitor feels welcome and encouraged. 

Enjoy complete coverage of the event, as standout teams from Division I and Division II go head-to-head with their sights set on obtaining points to The Varsity Cheer League and a bid to one of the prestigious end-of-season championships!

• Who: All Star Cheer Teams
• When: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2026
• Where: Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The Varsity Cheer League: 600 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About The Fort Worth Convention Center

In 2026, the ACA Grand Nationals will return to Fort Worth, Texas, and the Fort Worth Convention Center. 

The facility is less than 30 minutes from the DFW International Airport and is located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, which means proximity to shopping, galleries, delicious restaurants, event spaces, and venues – plus the Sundance Square entertainment district, historic Fort Worth Stockyards and Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk.

The Fort Worth Convention Center offers more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, meeting rooms, a ballroom, seating for up to 13,000, and an events plaza that connects to the unique Fort Worth Water Gardens. 

Check out this 3D view of the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Click HERE for a map and information about parking in downtown Fort Worth.

Things To Do In The Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Click HERE to learn more about Fort Worth, Texas, and how to take advantage of the area’s vast and diverse history and culture.

When you think of cowboys and life in the Old West, you’re probably picturing Fort Worth and the cities that surround it, and the reality definitely won’t disappoint. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to catch a cattle drive, learn about cowboy culture in the Stockyards National District, watch the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, get down at the world’s largest honky-tonk, or pick up some awesome souvenirs.

But if you happened to do all those things on a previous visit to the area, there are plenty of museums, galleries, gardens, historic locations, lakes, shops, festivals, sporting events, and amusement parks to check out. Or the Forth Worth Zoo. Or the Texas Motor Speedway. 

It’s cowboy culture meets modern metropolises, and there’s something for everyone’s interest. 

Take a look at all the neighborhoods and districts that make up Fort Worth.

For those with a little more time, venturing out to Arlington or Dallas would offer the opportunity to enjoy so many more aspects of the Texas experience. Maybe you can catch the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys if they’re in town. Or the NHL’s Dallas Stars. Or the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. 

When it’s time for food, even if it’s just something quick during a break from competition, here’s a really helpful map/guide to downtown dining in Fort Worth.

Need a car to get around Fort Worth? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2026 ACA Grand Nationals

The 2026 edition of the ACA Grand Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

Missed the Action? Watch The Rebroadcast

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

Relive The Action With Varsity TV 24/7 Network

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a coach or an athlete, Varsity TV 24/7 Network brings the action of the competitive cheer and dance season straight to you—anytime, anywhere. 

The always-live stream will feature all-access content and video replays hand-picked by experts on the Varsity TV team. Tune in to Varsity TV 24/7 Network live, starting on Nov. 1.

The 2026 ACA Grand Nationals Results

Results for the 2026 ACA Grand Nationals can be found here.

The 2026 ACA Grand Nationals Schedule

The schedule for 2026 ACA Grand Nationals can be found here.

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2026 ACA Grand Nationals

• 3 Paid Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 6 At-Large Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• Bid Info For The Summit Championships
• Bid Info For The Quest Recreational Championship
• Golden Tickets to The U.S. Finals

The Varsity Cheer League

The Varsity Cheer League is the official ranking system for the sport of All Star cheerleading, changing the conversation from “Who won the weekend?” to “Who ranks at the top this season?”

Every All Star elite team in Youth, Junior and Senior divisions will be included in the Varsity Cheer League.

Team rankings are determined by the point system displayed here. 

At each Varsity All Star event your team completes, your team will earn points based on the assigned event and placement point value. 

At the end of the season, your six best Varsity All Star event scores will be used to calculate your final rank.

In total, 92 winners will be recognized from first to third place across each region.

One champion will be crowned in each of the five regions across the six eligible divisions and two League 6 conferences. Champions will win cash and prizes!

Click here to learn more about The Varsity Cheer League

600 Points Up For Grabs At The 2026 ACA Grand Nationals

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown.

Tune in to Varsity TV on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 to watch all the action live from the 2026 ACA Grand Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas!

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