The 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals are back and better than ever! With action starting on Jan. 9 and concluding on Jan. 11, the talent in Bakersfield, CA. is going to be unmatched. 

GSSA Grand Nationals were founded in 1999 and since then have provided countless performance and scholarship opportunities for all-star cheerleaders and dance teams across the globe. 

The Division I and Division II competition in Bakersfield, will be broadcast live on Varsity TV for all three days of competition. The rebroadcast of the event will be on Jan. 10. 

As elite competition will take the mat for three days straight, 400 points are up for grabs in The Varsity Cheer League as well as the hope of a bid to one of the top end-of-season competitions. 

• Who: All Star Cheer Team
• When: Jan. 9-11, 2026
• Where: Bakersfield, CA. at the Dignity Health Arena Theater and Convention Center 
• Watch: Watch This Event Live on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: The Rebroadcast is set for Jan. 10 and can be found HERE on Varsity TV. 
• The Varsity Cheer League: 400 points are up for grabs at GSSA Grand Nationals. 

About Dignity Health Arena Theater and Convention Center

The GSSA Grand Nationals has a new home in the 2026 cheer season after being previously held in Sacramento, CA, in the 2025 season. 

The Dignity Health Arena Theater and Convention Center is the place to be for all things events in Bakersfield! From concerts, on-stage shows, hockey games for the AHL's Condors and so much more, folks looking for entertainment won't be disappointed with this venue. 

The venue will play host to the GSSA Grand Nationals and one of the most interesting features of the venue is a bag policy that does not prioritize clear bags unless over a certain size. 

Parking for GSSA can be paid for in advance online or on-site at one of the many lots at the venue. 

Located in downtown Bakersfield, the venue is close many restaurants as well as the Amtrak station and hotels near by for easy access for those attending the competition. 

More Information About Dignity Health Arena Theater & Convention Center: 

FAQs: For all of the venues frequently asked questions, find more info here.

Parking: For all things parking and online access, follow this link. 

Seat Map: For more information about venue seating availability, follow this link. 

Box Office: To access the box office to purchase tickets, go here. 

About Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield, California is home of the "Bakersfield Sound" in terms of country music and has also been referred to as "California's Oil Capital" 

Noted as a generally more affordable place to live, the city of Bakersfield is full of history with rich architecture and a "smaller-town" feel compared to other major California cities. 

With plenty of museums, parks and trails for those looking for slower days, there tons of options to get outside or connect with the arts such as the Kern River Parkway, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and the California Living Museum. 

When planning things to do in the beautiful city of Bakersfield, tourists and competitors should check out the Visit Bakersfield website!

How To Watch The 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals

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

If you’re going to be in Bakersfield 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 GSSA Grand Nationals Results

Results from the competition in Bakersfield can be found here! 

The 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals Performance Order

The performance order for the 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals can be found here! 

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals

• 2 full paid bids and 4 at-large bids to The Cheerleading Worlds 2026
• 1 partial-paid bid and 2 at-large bids to The Dance Worlds 2026
• 3 paid bids and 12 at-large bid to The Summit 2026
• 1 paid bid and 4 at-large to The Dance Summit 2026
• 3 paid bids and 8 at-large bids to The D2 Summit 2026
• 1 paid bid and 5 at-large bids to The Youth Sumit 2026 
• 5 at-large bids to The Recreational Summit 2026
• 2 paid bid and top three teams in eligible divisions qualify for The Regional Summit 2026  

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.

400 Points Up For Grabs At The 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown.

Tune in to Varsity TV on Jan 9 -11 to catch all of the live action from the 2026 GSSA Grand Nationals in Bakersfield, CA. 

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