The 2026 ACF Nationals was the premier annual championship event hosted by the Australian Cheer Federation (ACF), showcasing the highest level of competitive cheer and dance in the country. Held from 25 to 29 November 2026 at the prestigious Gold Coast Convention Arena, the five-day spectacle brought together thousands of athletes, coaches, judges, and supporters from across Australia. The event marked the culmination of the national season, with qualifying teams from regional championships and major competitions earning the right to compete on the biggest stage.
Across the first four days, over 300 routines were performed, spanning a diverse array of categories including All-Girl and Coed Cheer, Pom, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Partner Stunt, Special Abilities, and Novice divisions. Each division saw fierce competition, with teams striving not only for podium placements but also for a chance to qualify for the event’s most prestigious stage — the Grand Championship Knockout Bracket.
Returning for the second year, the Day 5 Grand Final introduced a cutthroat single-elimination format that disregarded age, level, and style. The top two teams from every division advanced into a unified bracket of 50 finalists, where routines were judged on overall execution, difficulty, and impact — not on comparative divisions. This bold format was designed to crown one indisputable champion of the Nationals, regardless of discipline.
The event reached its climax as teams across Cheer and Dance went head-to-head in the most intense matchups of the season. Ultimately, one team emerged above the rest, earning the title of 2026 ACF National Grand Champion and etching their name into federation history.
The following were the divisions contested during Days 1–4 of the 2026 ACF Nationals. Each included between 8 and 12 teams. Top 2 advanced to the Grand Final Bracket.
| Team |
Result
|
| Ignite – Mini Spark |
Winner
|
| Edge – Little Blazers |
Runner-Up
|
| Nova – Tiny Blaze |
|
| Eclipse – Baby Bolt |
|
| Blaze – Mini Surge |
|
| Rize – Sparkle Squad |
|
| Apex – Glitter Gems |
|
| Rush – Teeny Ignite |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Rize Athletics – Junior Flame |
Winner
|
| Apex – L1 Velocity |
Runner-Up
|
| Ignite – Ember One |
|
| Edge – Lightning |
|
| Blaze – Firecrackers |
|
| Nova – Bolt Blue |
|
| Eclipse – L1 Frost |
|
| Rush – Glow |
|
| Sparkfire – Heatline |
|
| Alpha – IgniteStars |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Ignite – Jazz Supreme |
Winner
|
| Eclipse – Senior Motion |
Runner-Up
|
| Edge – Flow |
|
| Blaze – Crown Jazz |
|
| Nova – Elemental |
|
| Apex – Jazz Unity |
|
| Sparkfire – Rhythmic |
|
| Rize – Onyx Jazz |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Blaze – Pom Supreme |
Winner
|
| Edge – Ignite Pom |
Runner-Up
|
| Apex – FirePom |
|
| Ignite – Pink Impact |
|
| Rize – Pom Legacy |
|
| Sparkfire – Radiance |
|
| Nova – Pom Echo |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Nova – Rhythm |
Winner
|
| Ignite – Urban Vibe |
Runner-Up
|
| Sparkfire – Youth Flow |
|
| Eclipse – Beats |
|
| Apex – Mini Pulse |
|
| Blaze – Street Charge |
|
| Edge – SoundWaves |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Apex – Spark Unity |
Winner
|
| Rize – Allstars Fusion |
Runner-Up
|
| Ignite – Brave Hearts |
|
| Edge – Limitless |
|
| Blaze – ShineBright |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Ignite – Duo Flame |
Winner
|
| Edge – Momentum Duo |
Runner-Up
|
| Nova – Lift Crew |
|
| Blaze – Partner Storm |
|
| Apex – Drive Duo |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Blaze – Heatstrike |
Winner
|
| Ignite – Coed Gold |
Runner-Up
|
| Edge – Redline |
|
| Apex – Fusion L1 |
|
| Eclipse – Junior Storm |
|
| Nova – XFactor |
|
| Sparkfire – Flashpoint |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Ignite – L5 Gold |
Winner
|
| Eclipse – L5 Darkfall |
Runner-Up
|
| Blaze – Supreme 5 |
|
| Edge – Platinum |
|
| Apex – Elite Force |
|
| Nova – Top Gun |
|
| Rize – Blackout |
|
| Rush – Flamehawks |
|
| Team |
Result
|
| Edge – Thunder |
Winner
|
| Rize – Blackline |
Runner-Up
|
| Ignite – Rogue |
|
| Apex – Voltage |
|
| Blaze – Dark Matter |
|
| Nova – L4 Fireline |
|
| Sparkfire – Blasters |
|
| Eclipse – Command |
|
The Top 16 teams across all divisions advanced to the no-division Grand Final bracket on Day 5. In a single-elimination format, Cheer teams faced off against Dance crews, with no level restrictions. Only one would be crowned the ACF Grand Champion of 2026.
| Round of 16
| | | Quarterfinals
| | | Semifinals
| | | Grand Final
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1
| Ignite – L5 Gold
| 94.5
| | | | |
|
| 16
| Sparkfire – Glow
| 91.3
| |
| | Ignite – L5 Gold
| 94.2
| |
|
| |
| | | Edge – Senior Vibe
| 93.6
| |
| 8
| Edge – Senior Vibe
| 93.7
| |
| |
| 9
| Blaze – Urban Pulse
| 90.9
| |
| | Ignite – L5 Gold
| 94.8
| |
|
| |
| | | Ignite – Jazz Supreme
| 94.5
| |
| 5
| Eclipse – Coed Black
| 92.6
| | |
| |
| 12
| Ignite – Vortex
| 93.1
| |
| | Ignite – Vortex
| 93.4
| |
|
| |
| | | Ignite – Jazz Supreme
| 94.0
| |
| 4
| Ignite – Jazz Supreme
| 93.8
| |
| |
| 13
| Apex – Thunder Crew
| 91.6
| |
| | Ignite – L5 Gold
| 95.1
| |
|
| |
| | | Blaze – L5 Surge
| 93.6
| |
| 6
| Nova – Firestorm
| 91.7
| | | |
| |
| 11
| Blaze – L5 Surge
| 93.5
| |
| | Blaze – L5 Surge
| 93.7
| |
|
| |
| | | Ignite – Pom Elite
| 92.5
| |
| 3
| Edge – L2 Lightning
| 90.8
| |
| |
| 14
| Ignite – Pom Elite
| 92.2
| |
| | Blaze – L5 Surge
| 93.2
| |
|
| |
| | | Nova – Rhythm
| 92.9
| |
| 7
| Nova – Rhythm
| 92.9
| | |
| |
| 10
| Eclipse – Jazz Control
| 91.5
| |
| | Nova – Rhythm
| 93.1
| |
|
| |
| | | Rize – Thunder Gold
| 91.4
| |
| 2
| Rize – Thunder Gold
| 90.6
| |
| |
| 15
| Rush – Fusion
| 89.8
| |
Ignite – L5 Gold took the mat and never let go of it. After surviving Jazz Supreme in what some called the real final, they shut the door on Blaze – L5 Surge with a near-flawless routine that capped off one of the most dominant seasons in ACF history. With a final score of 95.1, they became the undisputed champions of the 2026 ACF Nationals Grand Final.
Final Day Awards included:
- Grand Champion Trophy – Ignite – L5 Gold
- $4,000 cash prize for the winning team
- Custom National Banner
- ACF Special Recognition Medals for the Top 4
The 2026 ACF Nationals was considered one of the most competitive editions of the event to date. The fusion of dance and cheer under a unified bracket system reinforced the federation's mission to spotlight skill over style. Crowd turnout and online viewership broke federation records.