NCAA elevates acrobatics and tumbling to championship status

At the 2026 NCAA Convention in the Washington, D.C., area, NCAA members from all three divisions voted this week to add acrobatics and tumbling as a championship sport. The NCAA's first acrobatics and tumbling championship is projected to take place in spring 2027.

Added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in August 2020, acrobatics and tumbling swiftly made strides toward becoming eligible for championship status by eclipsing the necessary 40 schools that must sponsor it at the varsity level and meet minimum sports sponsorship requirements.

"It is a major win for the NCAA to add acrobatics and tumbling as a championship sport," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "We thank everyone who played a role in supporting this effort and look forward to continue providing world-class opportunities for women to compete in this incredible sport."  

Acrobatics and tumbling is a fast-paced, team-based discipline in which athletes perform a series of synchronized skills in events such as acrobatics, pyramid, toss, tumbling and team routines. Meets feature six events and typically span 90 to 120 minutes, with skills scored on difficulty and execution. 

"I'm excited for the young women that get to experience it," said Mariah Polk, a former Baylor acrobatics and tumbling student-athlete and current NCAA postgraduate intern. "And just for the trailblazers that came before, there are some dope, iconic people that came before that deserve to see this thing come to life."

The sport is currently governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association and draws participants from gymnastics, cheerleading, diving, dance and other strength-based sports.

"This moment represents an unprecedented collaborative effort by the individuals and member institutions in the acrobatics and tumbling community," said Janell Cook, executive director of NCATA. "The vision, resiliency and innovation required to accomplish this goal has been carried out with passionate resolve, and today is a celebration of every student-athlete, coach and administrator who has invested in the development of the sport. 

"They did so without guarantees or favor, remaining committed to equity and safety while creating unique, quality opportunities for student-athletes. Today, I am thinking about all the student-athletes who dreamed about competing for an NCAA championship, who pioneered this sport for the benefit of others who will now have that opportunity."

The new legislation creates a National Collegiate Championship in which acrobatics and tumbling student-athletes from every division will compete for a single title. 

"It is amazing to see our membership's ongoing commitment to the growth of opportunities for women in college sports," said Lynda Tealer, NCAA senior vice president of championships. "The acrobatics and tumbling community deserves a championship stage, and we are excited for the high level of competition that will soon be on full display."

In addition to the acrobatics and tumbling championship, the NCAA will also add a stunt championship, a Division III women's wrestling championship and a Division II bowling championship to further grow access to world-class athletics competition. 

Acrobatics and tumbling and stunt join six other sports that earned NCAA championship status through the Emerging Sports for Women program: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003), beach volleyball (2015) and wrestling (2025).

"Making acrobatics and tumbling an NCAA championship honors the young women whose vision, courage and excellence brought the sport to national prominence," said Jacqie McWilliams, chair of the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact and commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. "Today, we celebrate their journey and open the door for future student-athletes to keep redefining what's possible."

"Acrobatics and tumbling has surged in participation and passion on campuses nationwide," said Juan Hernandez, vice chair of the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact and vice president of diversity, equity and belonging at Curry. "Offering a National Collegiate Championship not only legitimizes the sport but also affirms our commitment to expanding equitable pathways for female student-athletes to excel and be celebrated."

"The NCAA's elevation of acrobatics and tumbling to championship sport status marks a significant milestone in the advancement of collegiate athletics," added Marion Terenzio, SUNY Cobleskill president and chair of the Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact Emerging Sports Subcommittee. "It expands meaningful opportunities for women to compete at the highest level and recognizes the growing national impact of these dynamic, team-centered disciplines. Today's announcement honors years of dedication and opens a new era of visibility, legitimacy and competitive excellence."

Sponsorship and participation in emerging sports increased by more than 20% in 2024-25, with nearly 7,000 athletes participating across all three divisions.

These rates coincide with an increase in student-athlete participation across all three divisions. In the 2025-26 academic year, Division I schools are projected to offer more than 1,000 new opportunities to play sports as compared with 2024-25. Additionally, new Division I schools plan to add 110 more teams and more than 3,200 additional participation opportunities than were available in 2024-25. These sport offerings have increased over the past eight years. 

Educational opportunities are set to increase significantly, as well. NCAA schools provided over $4 billion in scholarship support last year. And because the NCAA eliminated limits on scholarships for upcoming seasons, more student-athletes will have college paid for than ever before.