Varsity Announces Small Gym Summit Championship Debuting in 2027

Varsity announced the launch of the Small Gym Summit Championship, a new end-of-season national event designed for U.S. all star cheer gym locations with 60 or fewer elite athletes.

The inaugural championship is scheduled for May 6–7, 2027 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The event is intended to give small gym athletes the opportunity to compete on one of the sport’s most recognizable championship stages.

According to Varsity Spirit, the championship was created to provide smaller programs with access to a national event that mirrors the production, judging and competitive expectations associated with major postseason competitions.

Small gym programs often operate with fewer athletes and limited roster flexibility compared to larger all star organizations. The new championship focuses on those programs by limiting eligibility to gym locations with 60 or fewer elite athletes.

Varsity Spirit said the event will follow U.S. All Star Federation guidelines and will feature judges trained and qualified through the company’s competition system. Production standards will reflect the expectations of a national championship environment.

For coaches and athletes, the event introduces another postseason target that aligns more closely with the size and structure of smaller programs.

Varsity Spirit confirmed the championship will include a bid pathway through its competition circuit, allowing teams to qualify during the regular season. Details about bid distribution and qualifying events are expected ahead of the 2026–27 competition season.

Athletes will be permitted to compete on up to two teams, with standard crossover rules in place.

Varsity Spirit emphasized that the Small Gym Summit Championship does not replace or restructure existing divisions in the sport.

Gym locations that meet the athlete threshold may participate regardless of Division I or Division II designation.

Division splits will follow U.S. All Star Federation guidelines and will be finalized after registration. Divisions are not guaranteed to split and will not be separated by Division I or Division II status.

The addition of the Small Gym Summit Championship expands the postseason landscape for all star cheer programs. Events such as The Summit, The D2 Summit, and The Cheerleading Worlds already serve as end-of-season championships tied to skill level or program classification.

The new event introduces a championship built around program size, creating another national platform for teams representing smaller gym locations.