| 2026 IESA Cheerleading Championships Set For Wednesday, February 11
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Nearly 1,500 Cheerleaders to Compete at the 2026 IESA State Cheerleading Championships
The excitement is building as nearly 1,500 cheerleaders prepare to showcase their talents at the 24th annual Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Cheerleading Championships. The event will take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in the Exhibit Hall of the Peoria Civic Center, featuring 113 performances from 96 different schools across the state.
This year’s competition includes two categories: Routine and Game Day Cheer. Schools participating in the Routine category will be divided into three classes based on enrollment, while the Game Day Cheer category will feature a single class. Schools have the option to compete in both categories.
The 2026 Championships will kick off at 8:10 a.m., with tickets available for purchase at the Peoria Civic Center. Admission is $15 for all attendees, with preschoolers admitted free. Gates will open at 7:10 a.m. for early arrivals.
Event Schedule:
Class 2A & 3A Routine: 8:10 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Awards Ceremony: Approx. 1:00 p.m.
Game Day Cheer & 1A Routine: 2:15 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.
Awards Ceremony: Approx. 6:45 p.m.
Please note that the awards ceremonies will take place following the final performance of each session, and times are approximate.
A total of 31 Game Day Cheer squads are set to compete, alongside 82 teams in the Routine category. A list of the competing schools may be found on the IESA website: https://www.iesa.org/activities/chr/participants.asp
About the Categories
Game Day Cheer: Squads perform without music for 1:30-2:00 minutes, showcasing stunts, tumbling, and jumps.
Routine: Squads perform a choreographed routine with music lasting 1:30-3:00 minutes. The musical portion cannot exceed 2 minutes.
For the latest schedule updates and more detailed information, please refer to the IESA Cheerleading Page at www.iesa.org. All event times are tentative and subject to change.
The results of the competition will be available on Wednesday evening.
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