DII National School Spirit Championships: Starting January 30, 2026

School size: 1-1399 students

• DII National High School Cheerleading Championship
• DII National Dance Team Championship
• DII National School Band Championship

‌DI National School Spirit Championships: Starting February 6, 2026

School Size: 1400+ students

• DI National High School Cheerleading Championship
• DI National Dance Team Championship
• DI National School Band Championship

School Spirit is the heartbeat of communities; and at Varsity Spirit, it is the driving force behind our mission to transform the student and athlete experience. At schools nationwide, there are three groups with the power to transform their communities together through spirit — cheer, dance, and band.

The impact of school spirit is clear. 92% of school principals agree that school spirit is tied to student achievement. 

Students with higher levels of school spirit are: 

• More confident (91%)  
• More likely to be a leader (90%) 
• Happier (88%)  
• More active in their community (87%) 
• More fulfilled (73%) 

For more on the impact of school spirit, visit School Spirit Research (varsitybrands.com) 

The National School Spirit Championships allow your school’s cheer and dance teams, bands, and families to travel to Walt Disney World® Resort together to compete at the National High School Cheerleading Championship, National Dance Team Championship, and the new National School Band Championship, split between DI and DII. 

For more information on how cheer, dance, and band members can compete together, see the Spirit Program Game Day section below.

Varsity Spirit’s focus on new ways for cheer, dance, and band to work together to create a cohesive spirit program within their schools and communities has always been at the forefront. While each group shines in their discipline, working together and celebrating each other creates the foundation of school spirit.

This mission has been exemplified at the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship since it began in 1983. Cheer and dance teams come together on one weekend to represent their school, compete at the highest level in their own activity, and support each other. In 2022 the introduction of the College Spirit Program Game Day Division provided a new opportunity for cheerleaders, dancers, and band members to work together to create a performance showcasing what makes them and their fans so proud to represent their universities—all on one weekend.

In 2026, we are excited to introduce this same vision at the National School Spirit Championships, giving cheer teams, dance teams, and bands the chance to shine individually and together. It is a celebration of everything that makes cheer, dance, and band such imperative groups on campus while highlighting what makes them unique.

The Spirit Program Game Day Divisions emphasize the collaboration and cohesion of your school’s spirit programs– cheer, dance and band– in an exciting new Game Day format that fosters school pride and emphasizes your school’s traditions in an entertaining and crowd effective performance. Your team will showcase the sights and sounds of your unique game day traditions while emphasizing the unification of your spirit program.   

DIVISION INFORMATION:

Two Spirit Program Game Day Divisions

• Spirit Program Game Day: Cheer and Dance Programs 
• Spirit Program Game Day Live: The Live format can be any combination of cheer and band, dance and band, or cheer, dance and band 

The goal for the Spirit Program Game Day Divisions is to bring together spirit groups to amplify school spirit.

PERFORMANCE FORMAT:

• FIGHT SONG: This section should reflect your school’s traditional Fight Song that your team performs at games, pep rallies, etc. Teams should incorporate crowd effective elements and choreography that enhances the overall effect. For teams that do not have an official Fight Song, it is recommended to use a second selection of band chant music. Music guidelines are available at varsity.com/music.
• CROWD LEADING (SIDELINE OR CHANT): This section should showcase any home/traditional sideline with words that are repetitive, easy to follow, that incite crowd engagement and involvement. The crowd leading portion should be easy for the crowd to follow along and engage. 
• TIMEOUT/TRADITION: The timeout/tradition should reflect a similar crowd interactive and entertaining performance that your team performs during halftimes, extended timeouts, or pep rallies. This is the best time to showcase spirit program cohesiveness and unison.

More information coming in 2025!

For information about Varsity Spirit music guidelines, CLICK HERE.

The National School Spirit Championships will crown America’s most spirited schools through a NSSC points race. Winners will be named in Junior High and High School for both weekends in DI and DII. And, there’s even up to $75,000 in prizes and awards!  

Schools will earn points based on their highest placement in each championship – NHSCC, NDTC, NSBC. Earn extra points by competing in the new Spirit Program Game Day Divisions. 

Schools with the most points at the end of the weekend will be named the National School Spirit Champions and crowned America’s Most Spirited Schools. The higher you place, the more points you earn.  

Stay tuned for more details coming soon!   

The National School Spirit Championships will be split into two weekends based on school enrollment size.

• DI: 1400+ students
• DII: 1-1399 students

High Schools will need to provide proof of enrollment each October.

A Junior High team must register for the same event as the largest high school the school feeds into based on school zoning.

• If the school does not feed into a high school, the team will compete on the DII weekend. 

Recreational cheer teams will follow the school they are affiliated with. If the Recreational cheer team is not affiliated
with a school, the team would compete in the DII Championship weekend. If you have additional questions, please
contact your State Director

Teams can qualify at camps for the Spirit Program Game Day Division (Cheer & Dance).

• Cheer teams can qualify at camp. 75% of the team will need to attend camp in order to be eligible. 
• Dance teams can qualify at camp with 5 or more members. Dance teams may also qualify by attending a UDA Regional event.  
  • Dance teams may apply for a one-year waiver for the qualification requirement. Contact your State Director for more information. 
• Bands will not need to qualify for the first year of the National School Band Championship. 

*See each championship event site for individual event qualifications.

• National High School Cheerleading Championship
• National Dance Team Championship
• National School Band Championship