If you’ve always wanted to attend a cheerleading event or watch a live stream, then you should definitely know about the most important championships in the world. Because cheerleading is no longer just “cheering” on the sidelines, but a highly competitive sport.
We start right away with the three biggest events in cheer sports. These championships are to cheerleading what the Olympics are to athletics – the stage where everything counts.
The biggest cheerleading competitions can be found in the USA.
Where. Orlando, Florida (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex)
When? Annually, end of April
“The Cheerleading Worlds” is the annual international championship that is considered the most prestigious competition in the world among cheerleaders. For all-star cheerleaders (club athletes), it is a dream come true to stand on the mat. If you are here as a spectator, you will see the best of the best compete against each other.
What makes Worlds so special?
It’s not just a simple championship, it’s more like a huge cheerleading festival. Like a festival. At the same time, the atmosphere is the most intense in the entire sport, because the Worlds is reserved exclusively for the absolute top elite (level 6 and 7), who compete for the legendary world champion rings. The whole thing is accompanied by a massive expo and competition from all over the world.
The Dance Worlds also take place at the same time as the Cheerleading Worlds. Although this event is generally intended more for dancers, cheer dance is also one of the disciplines. So if you are more interested in the choreography than the stunts in cheerleading, this would be your event.
Where. Orlando, Florida (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex)
When? Annually, usually the week before the Cheerleading Worlds
The ICU (International Cheer Union) is the official world association for cheerleading and is fully recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This means that the ICU World Championships are the official world championships in which the athletes do not compete for their private clubs, but in national teams for their respective countries.
The IOC seal of approval is huge because it means that cheerleading is moving ever closer to the Olympic Games. Countries with Olympic ambition take this competition extremely seriously – the level of sport is correspondingly high and fiery.
Where. Dallas, Texas (Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center)
When? Annually, usually in February or March
The NCA All Star Nationals is one of the largest cheerleading competitions in the world in terms of the number of athletes. Around 30,000 cheerleaders come together for this tournament on a single weekend.
Why is the event so huge? Because the NCA (National Cheer Association) is the ultimate for regular all-star teams (meaning it’s not just the elite coming together). There are hundreds of cheer studios in the USA, and each one wants to shine here. The event has it all: multiple arenas, huge crowds, an infamous light and sound show, and emotional trophy presentations. It’s practically the Super Bowl of club cheerleading.
Where. Atlanta, Georgia
When? Annually in February
CHEERSPORT in Atlanta is one of the best-attended and most atmospheric tournaments of all. It is the first major indicator of the season, where the teams show whether their routines are ready for the title hunt.
Where? Orlando, Florida (Walt Disney World Resort)
When? Annually in March
The UCA Nationals are the third big piece of the Triple Crown puzzle. The halls at the Disney Resort shake when the teams compete for the coveted white winning jackets. The magical Disney backdrop gives this event a very special vibe.
Where? Orlando, Florida (Walt Disney World Resort)
When? Annually, beginning of May
The Summit was launched in 2013 to give teams that are not (yet) able to compete at the Cheerleading Worlds a global stage. The event takes place on an international level for levels 1 to 5. So it is not the top senior elite who come together here, but the top athletes from the other level classes and the youth categories. For many teams, reaching the “Summit” is the real, tough goal of the season.
Where? Daytona Beach, Florida
When? Annually in April
College sport in the USA is a league of its own – and the athletes are sometimes celebrated more than in the professional leagues. The NCA & NDA College Nationals are the absolute highlight of the season for college and university teams from all over the USA.
The event is legendary because it is held on a huge open-air stage right on the beach in Daytona and shows just how demanding collage cheerleading is. Teams train all year under the toughest conditions for those few minutes in the spotlight. In case you’re interested: This exact nerve-wracking journey is shown in the popular Netflix documentary “Cheer”.
Where. Varies, the next edition will take place in Karlsruhe, Germany.
When: Every four years, next time in July 2029
Cheerleading was officially represented as a permanent discipline in the World Games program for the first time in 2025. The World Games are an international multi-sport event for sports that are not (yet) a permanent part of the traditional Olympic Games. The fact that cheerleading was allowed to shine here in 2025 was a massive step towards worldwide sporting recognition. As a result, many countries have been promoting their national teams much more intensively since then – the sport is becoming more and more “official”. The next World Games will be held in Germany in July 2029.
You don’t necessarily have to get on a plane to Florida to experience top-class cheer live. There is also top-level cheering in Europe and right on our doorstep.
Where? Movie Park Germany (Bottrop)
When? Every year on Whitsun weekend (May)
The ELITE Championships are the largest open cheerleading championship in Europe. Every year, thousands of athletes from different countries flock to the amusement park to compete against each other. For European fans, it is the best chance to experience the colorful and loud festival feeling of the sport up close.
Where? Annually changing European cities
When? Annually in early summer (June/July)
While the event at Movie Park is an open festival, the ECC is the official European Championships of the European Club Association (ECA). You can’t get here just by registering: Only the national champions and runners-up of the respective European countries receive a ticket. This is where the heart of European cheer beats at the highest level.
Where? Changing major cities in Germany
When? Annually in May
If you want to know who dominates the mats in Germany, you can’t miss the German Championships of the CCVD (Cheerleading and Cheerdance Association Germany). After tough qualifying rounds at regional level in winter, the best German club teams meet here. This is the most important weekend of the year for the local community, as the starting places for the national teams are also awarded here.
To summarize: Where do you want to watch?
You want to see the absolute best of the world’s national teams? ICU World Championships
Best of all, many of these events are broadcast live via specialist streaming platforms such as Varsity TV / FloCheer, and the best routines can also be found on YouTube shortly afterwards. So no excuses – check out why so many people around the world are absolutely hooked on this sport!
