Insider Info: 2026 ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals DI/Worlds

The 2026 ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals DI/Worlds begins competition March 28-29. All of the action will take place in Ocean City, Maryland at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

The ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals DI/Worlds will be the third ACDA national event to be held in Ocean City in 2026, which has become tradition, joining the ACDA Reach the Beach Dance Grand Nationals and the ACDA Reach the Beach All-Star Grand Nationals – DII.

Another popular feature of the ACDA events is Surfy the Spirit Shark, plus special awards and rewards, and vacation giveaways, all while focusing on fun and memories for competitors, coaches and supporters. 

Enjoy complete coverage of the event, as All Star teams from Division I go head-to-head with their sights set on obtaining points to The League by Varsity All Star and a bid to one of the prestigious end-of-season championships!

• Who: All Star Cheer Teams
• When: March 28-29, 2026
• Where: Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland
• Watch: LIVE on Varsity TV
• Rebroadcast: Watch HERE
• The League by Varsity All Star: 600 Points Up For Grabs

What To Know About The Roland E. Powell Convention Center

What can competitors and their guests expect if they haven’t been to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland?

The convention center offers more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, used for a variety of events – car shows, concerts and entertainment, conventions – plus a new performing arts center that allows for even more variety.

The facility includes a main exhibit hall, ballroom, secondary exhibit hall and meeting rooms.

Take a look at the venue with these floor plans and a virtual tour.

Things To Do In Ocean City, Maryland

Imagine getting to compete in the sport you love, at the highest level of competition, in one of the premier vacation spots in the United States. 

Well, those headed to the 2026 edition of ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals will get all of that and more. 

What more could there be? Good question!

Beach towns on the East Coast are known for their scenic landscapes, delicious food, beachside amusements and activities – all the things you could ask for after a hard day of competition.

Even better, spring will be in the air, so the weather should be ideal to get outside and enjoy the ocean breeze and some sunshine. 

Click HERE to learn more about Ocean City, Maryland, and all the amazing things to do there. While you’re here, take virtual tour of the area’s top spots. 

From its start as a fishing village, to the sensational vacation destination it has become, Ocean City will give you a true representation of what an East Coast beach town is all about.

Beachgoers have been flocking to Ocean City since the 1860s, and it wouldn’t be that way if it wasn’t an amazing experience. 

Here’s a list of things to do in Ocean City, along with a list of FAQ.

Then we circle back to the incredible seafood and diverse cuisine in Ocean City. 

Sure, you might be too early (or way too late) for the biggest Maryland blue crabs of the year, but the locals have had many decades to make the most of what they do have.

Try whatever crab you can find. Or go for the crab cakes. Or Crab Imperial. Or crab fries. The area also features a long list of spots with incredible confections and ice cream. 

HERE is a list of all the restaurants to choose from in Ocean City. No matter what you and your fellow travelers like, you won’t be disappointed. 

Need a car to get around Ocean City? Visit Avis!

How To Watch The 2026 ACDA Reach The Beach Grand Nationals

The 2026 edition of the ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals will stream LIVE on Varsity TV.

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

If you’re going to be in Maryland and want to see the event in person, click HERE for spectator and ticket information. 

The 2026 ACDA Reach The Beach Grand Nationals Results

Results for the 2026 ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals can be found here.

The 2026 ACDA Reach The Beach Grand Nationals Schedule

The schedule for the 2026 ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals can be found here.

Bids Up For Grabs At The 2026 ACDA Reach The Beach Grand Nationals

• 2 Paid Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds 
• 4 At-Large Bids to The Cheerleading Worlds
• 3 Paid Bids to The Summit
• 12 At-Large Bids to The Summit
• 1 Paid Bid to The Youth Summit
• 5 At-Large Bids to The Youth Summit
• 2 Paid Bid to The Regional Summit
• Top 3 teams in eligible divisions will earn an At-Large Bid to The Regional Summit
• Golden Tickets to The U.S. Finals

The Varsity Cheer League

The Varsity Cheer League is the official ranking system for the sport of All Star cheerleading, changing the conversation from “Who won the weekend?” to “Who ranks at the top this season?”

Every all star elite team in Youth, Junior and Senior divisions will be included in the Varsity Cheer League.

Team rankings are determined by the points system displayed here. At each Varsity All Star event your team competes, your team will earn points based on the assigned event and placement point value.

At the end of the season, your six best Varsity All Star event scores will be used to calculate your final rank.

In total, 128 winners will be recognized from first to third place across each region. 

One champion will be crowned in each of the five regions across the eight eligible divisions and two League 6 conferences, meaning 42 championships will be awarded in total. Champions will win cash and prizes!

Click here to learn more about The Varsity Cheer League.

600 Points Up For Grabs In Ocean City

Click here to view the full points system/breakdown.

Tune in to Varsity TV on March 28-29 to watch all the action live from the 2026 ACDA Reach the Beach Grand Nationals in Ocean City, Maryland!

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