If you’re curious about the NCA All-Star Nationals, you’ve come to the right place!
This competition event brings together thousands of teams from all over the globe, all eager to compete for the prestigious national champion title.
In this guide, we’ll dive into the details of the NCA All-Star Nationals, from its meaning to the divisions and levels offered, and much more.
Quick Overview
- NCA Nationals is a competition open to anyone, offering level 1-7 divisions.
- It is the biggest cheerleading competition in the world.
- The competition has always been held in Dallas, Texas, though it has moved to Houston, Texas, until 2029.
What is NCA Nationals?
The NCA All-Star Nationals, typically referred to as “NCA Nationals” or just “NCA”, is the biggest cheerleading competition in the world. It takes place annually in Texas.
Since its inception, the competition has been held in Dallas, but has moved to Houston until 2029 due to renovations. Learn more here:
The competition is usually in late February or early March, and is organized by Varsity, a leader in cheerleading events. Thousands of teams compete every year for the national champion title, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions.
NCA offers divisions for level 1-7 teams from all over the world, both for coed and all-girl teams. Apart from the champion title, teams also compete for bids to The Cheerleading Worlds, The Summit, The D2 Summit, and more.
One of the special parts of the NCA All-Star Nationals is its inclusivity. Unlike some other competitions, teams don’t need a bid or invitation to participate.
This means that any team can enter the competition and have a chance to show their skills!
What are the NCA divisions?
To keep up with the ever-evolving and changing cheerleading divisions, NCA regularly updates its division list.
With so many divisions available, it’s impossible to list them all in this article.
The best way to stay informed about the current divisions is to visit the official competition website. There, you’ll find detailed information about the divisions, including specific requirements and guidelines for each level and age group.
What do the winners get?
Now, let’s talk about the rewards and recognition that teams can earn at NCA Nationals.
Winning teams are crowned “National Champions”.
Along with the glory of being named champions, teams receive rewards such as a trophy, a banner, and the iconic NCA jackets:
Some teams take their victory celebration a step further by ordering custom champion rings. These rings are often personalized with the team’s logo, name, sayings, and any other details they want to include.
It’s a fun way to celebrate their success and create a lasting keepsake of their NCA win!
Past competition results – who won NCA?
If you’re curious about the past NCA winners, you can explore the competition’s history by visiting the official event website.
The website provides access to comprehensive archives, allowing you to delve into the results of previous years.
The “NCA curse”
For years, there was a so-called “large senior curse” that had to do with NCA Nationals and The Cheerleading Worlds.
Find out more about it here:
Future NCA Dates & Locations
NCA Nationals is currently held in Houston, Texas (2026–2028), before its planned return to Dallas in 2029. Learn more here.
- 2026: February 27–March 1
More cheerleading competition guides
If you want to expand your knowledge of the cheerleading world, we recommend checking out our other guides on major all-star cheerleading competitions:
- What Is The Cheerleading Worlds? Quick Competition Guide
- What Is The Summit? Here’s Everything You Need To Know
- What is the ICU World Cheerleading Championship?
Disclaimer: This is not official information from Varsity or the National Cheerleaders Association. Visit their websites for official information from the organizations.