American Cup returns in 2026 with mixed team competition

American Cup will return to the competition calendar in 2026 featuring mixed team international competition, USA Gymnastics announced. The event is set for the evening of March 7 at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, just minutes from the heart of Las Vegas, with the Nastia Liukin Cup Presented by Ozone to be held earlier that afternoon.

Fans and athletes will get a sneak peek into the LA28 Olympics, where mixed team gymnastics will make its debut on the Olympic stage. In Las Vegas, teams from eight countries will be composed of men’s and women’s gymnasts. Athletes from each gender will perform on select apparatus, with combined scores determining team winners. The detailed competition format will be finalized in coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to bring back American Cup in a new format,” USA Gymnastics Chief Programs Officer Stefanie Korepin said. “Mixed team competition brings an added level of excitement, and with it now on the Olympic schedule, 2026 will be a great opportunity to generate interest and excitement for the new version of a classic event with the American Cup.”

American Cup was first held in 1976 and was contested annually through 2020, just days before the Covid shutdown. It returns in 2026 for its 50^th birthday. Since its inception, American Cup has attracted some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Simone Biles, Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Gabby Douglas, Paul Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Carly Patterson, Danell Leyva, Shannon Miller, Mary Lou Retton, Kurt Thomas, Peter Vidmar, Jordyn Wieber and Kim Zmeskal-Burdette.

Nastia Liukin Cup Presented by Ozone kicks off competition

Accompanying American Cup on March 7 will be the annual Nastia Liukin Cup Presented by Ozone, a national competition for Level 10 women’s artistic gymnasts. Traditionally held with USA Gymnastics’ Winter Cup in late February, the 2026 Nastia Liukin Cup will now be paired with American Cup, giving the top U.S. level 10 women’s gymnasts an opportunity to compete on the same stage as their international counterparts.

American Cup competition will be broadcast live by NBC. Additional details for the event including format, competing countries, and U.S. selection process, will be announced later this year. For historical information on the event, visit the USA Gymnastics website.