The Jersey Shore is known for sun and fun, boardwalks filled with delicious food and entertainment and as an annual destination for children and families from up and down the East Coast.

During the winter, the area is quieter, some businesses are closed and the beach is without bathing suits and drink coolers.

On Jan. 24-25, however, there again will be something to cheer about, as the 2026 edition of Spirit Unlimited Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals returns to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Oh, and once again, Varsity TV will be there to provide live coverage of the entire event!

For Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals, one of four events on Spirit Unlimited’s 2025-2026 schedule, SU is able to harness the glitz and glamour of Atlantic City and give the competitors the red-carpet treatment and the feel of a Hollywood premiere. 

Spirit Unlimited has been facilitating events since 1999, from one-day competitions to the elite and prestigious Battle at the Boardwalk, with each creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Enjoy complete coverage of the event, as All Star cheer teams 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. 24-25, 2026 
• Where: Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The Varsity Cheer League: 600 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About Boardwalk Hall

Atlantic City long has been a premier oceanside destination for families wanting to enjoy the boardwalk and beaches, as well as serving as a playground for adults who may not have time or resources to fly all the way to Nevada. 

For Spirit Unlimited Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals, competitors and their guests will be treated to a weekend at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, which has been part of the area’s history, in some capacity, for almost a century. 

The venue’s story began in 1929 as the Atlantic City Convention Hall, the country’s first convention center, and it has hosted everything from indoor football to the Miss America Pageant to conventions, concerts, trade shows, the 1964 Democratic National Convention – even an indoor helicopter flight in 1970.

Renovated and renamed in 2001, the facility remains an architectural marvel. In 2017, it was dedicated to late New Jersey Senator Jim Whelan, who died earlier that year. 

The multi-purpose Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall features a 141,000-square foot main area with room to seat almost 15,000, plus the 23,000-square foot Adrian Phillips Theater, which seats 3,200. Learn more about the property here.

Beyond the Battle at the Boardwalk, the property stays busy each year with a variety of events. 

The calendar for the new year includes All Stars of Hip-Hop the week before All Star cheer comes to town. Then, there’s indoor auto racing, R&B music, the Harlem Globetrotters, collegiate basketball, comedy shows, instrumental music, graduations and more.

Added just before the Hall’s renovations began in 1998, the Atlantic City Convention Center created a 1-2 combo that makes Atlantic City a top destination for the biggest and best events on the East Coast.

More information: Directions & Parking | Event Calendar | A-Z Guide  

Things To Do In Atlantic City, New Jersey

For more than 170 years, Atlantic City has been a destination resort town, and the festive boardwalk has been part of the landscape since 1870.

It became the annual home of the Miss America Pageant and the original Mecca of casino gambling on the East Coast.

It still is some of those things, along with being a regular host for SU Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals, giving a new generation of visitors a chance to enjoy what the area has to offer. Sure, it’s the middle of the winter, but the charm is there. And it might entice guests to return when it’s warm and busy.

Click HERE to learn more about Atlantic City and all there is to do there.

Competitors and their guests in town for the 2026 SU Battle at the Boardwalk will have plenty of ways to fill their free time, weather permitting – beach, boardwalk, shopping, casinos, aquarium, shows, cruises and more.

More importantly, there’s so much amazing food – seafood, casino buffets, steakhouses, classic Italian, hot dogs, pizza, funnel cake, salt water taffy. 

Need a car to get around Atlantic City and the famed Jersey Shore? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2026 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals

The 2026 edition of the SU Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

If you’re going to be in New Jersey and want to see the event in person, keep an eye on this page for spectator and ticket information.

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 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals Results

Results for the 2026 SU Battle at the Boardwalk Grand Nationals can be found here.

The 2026 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals Schedule

The schedule for 2026 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals can be found here.

Tentative block schedule

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2026 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals 

• 2 Paid Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 4 At-Large Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 3 Paid Bids to The Summit
• 12 At-Large Bids to The Summit
• 3 Paid Bids to The D2 Summit
• 8 At-Large Bids to The D2 Summit
• 1 Paid Bid to The Youth Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Youth Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Recreational Summit
• 2 Paid Bids to The Regional Summit
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Regional Summit
• 1 Silver Bid to The Quest
• Top 3 teams in bid-eligible divisions earn a Qualifier Bid to The Quest
• 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 Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown. 

Tune in to Varsity TV on Jan. 24-25 to watch all the action live from the 2026 SU Battle At The Boardwalk Grand Nationals in Atlantic City, New Jersey!

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