main news 🗞️

New Details Revealed for NCA Nationals 2026 in Houston

In case you’ve missed it: for the first time in over 30 years, NCA All-Star Nationals will not take place in Dallas, Texas. Instead, it’s moving to Houston until 2029 due to construction at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Learn more.

📰 The news: During a coaches’ call on July 23, Varsity shared the first official details about the 2026 NCA Nationals in Houston. Here are some key updates:

• The event will use two buildings: George R. Brown Convention Center and the Toyota Center.
• Warm-up spaces will be smaller and placed behind each performance venue, instead of one large room.
• The Toyota Center arena will hold about 19,000 fans, almost double Dallas’s arena size. However, the arena will be divided in half.
• Varsity plans a “campus-like” feel, “incorporating outdoor spaces, closed roads, and interconnected hotels.”
• Performance days and divisions stay the same as in 2025.

🌟 Why it matters: NCA All-Star Nationals is the biggest and one of the most prestigious cheer events of the year, with deep roots tied to its longtime home in Dallas. Moving to Houston represents a major shift in how teams and spectators will experience the competition – from new warm-up logistics to performance venues and meeting spaces.

📅 What’s next: Varsity will continue testing logistics during Encore Grand Nationals 2025 (held in the George R. Brown Convention Center) to refine the event setup for 2026. While it’s a big change, Varsity says this move is a chance to try new and exciting experiences for athletes and fans. (Or, if this makes you sad, this is your sign to cry it out).

​Learn more here.