Since a season-opening event at the end of November, the Athletic Championships’ schedule has been quiet, but the organization is back in January with a busy slate and two of the year’s biggest competitions.

The Athletic Championships Nationals & Dance Grand Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, will kick things off Jan. 23-25 and will share the weekend with the Athletic Championships Chattanooga Nationals in Tennessee on Jan. 24-25.

The month will conclude with the 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals in Providence, Rhode Island, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, and that’s what we’re here to talk about.

The Athletic Championships Grand Nationals is one of eight Athletic Championships events this season and returns to the Rhode Island Convention Center. Varsity TV again will be there to provide live coverage of the event.

The Athletic Championships national competitions are multi-day events that try to focus on more than just competition. They also want participants and their guests to enjoy the camaraderie and make memories and friends along the way. 

Customer service and sportsmanship are two of the organization’s most important values.

Enjoy complete coverage of the event, as All Star 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: Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The Varsity Cheer League: 500 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About The Rhode Island Convention Center

The Athletic Championships Grand Nationals heads back to the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island, adding yet another chapter to the history of one of the oldest cities in the United States.

The Rhode Island Convention Center is located in downtown Providence and close to many hotels, restaurants, shopping, galleries, museums and other entertainment. 

The venue features 100,000 square feet of convention space, a sizeable ballroom, meeting rooms – plenty of space for the top cheer teams on the East Coast. To make things even more convenient, the convention center is connected to a hotel with more than 550 rooms.

The RICC is part of the Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex, which also includes the Amica Mutual Pavilion and Veterans Memorial Auditorium. 

The AMP is home to the AHL’s Providence Bruins and the Providence College men’s basketball team and hosts a variety of other sporting events, concerts, shows, trade shows and more. 

Unfortunately, neither the Bruins nor the Friars will be in action over the weekend. 

Things To Do In Providence, Rhode Island

While it would be impossible to learn about centuries of history over just a couple afternoons, hitting some of the highlights could be a lot of fun and very enlightening, as the city was established in the 1630s. There’s even a free mobile app that tells stories about, and by, people from Rhode Island. 

Maybe there’s only time to look around? Well, you’re in luck. There’s so much amazing architecture, many important landmarks and some incredible neighborhoods.

Click HERE to learn about historic Providence and all there is to do in the area.

Depending on the weather, there are many attractions, exhibits, art pieces, parks, museums, galleries and events to enjoy – even the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Check out this list of things to do in Providence.

Finally, when it’s time to eat, Rhode Island won’t disappoint, especially if you like seafood. After all, Rhode Island is the Ocean State!

New England is known for clam cakes, clam chowder, stuffed clams, fried clams and other seafood, but there also are some non-seafood things to try. The list includes hot wieners, donut cake, pizza strips, coffee milk, Johnny Cakes (cornmeal pancakes) and lemonade from Del’s.  

HERE is a list of restaurants in Providence and throughout Rhode Island.

Need a car to get around Rhode Island? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals

The 2026 edition of Athletic Championships Grand Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

If you’re going to be in Providence and want to see the event in person, click HERE 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 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals Results

Results for the 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals can be found here.

The 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals Schedule

Schedule for the 2026 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals can be found here.

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2026 Athletic Championships 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
• 2 Paid Bids to The Regional Summit
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Regional Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Recreational Summit
• 1 Silver Bid to The Quest
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions qualify for 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.

500 Points Up For Grabs At The 2026 Athletic Championships 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 Athletic Championships Grand Nationals in Providence, Rhode Island!

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