Nationals Season
Four championship events. Every age division. Classic and equipped. Every route to a US national team.
Find Your Championship
Which division am I in?
Nine age divisions from Youth to Masters IV, set by birth year. Two minutes to find yours.
Classic or Equipped?
One sport, two disciplines. Most lifters start Classic. Equipped is its own craft with its own national title.
Chasing a team spot?
Every US national team is selected from nationals results by published criteria. Know which meet feeds your team.
The season
Bench Press Nationals
January 22–24, 2027 · Corpus Christi, TX
Bench Press Nationals
All age divisions
Bench Press Worlds · Bench Press North Americans
Special Olympics
Special Olympics men & women
Bench Press Worlds · Bench Press North Americans
A standalone championship contested on the bench press only, open to every age division in classic and equipped, with a Special Olympics division on the same platform.
Classic Open Nationals
Dates and host city to be announced
Classic Open Nationals
Open
Classic Worlds · North Americans
The open national championship, and the deepest field of the season.
High School & Collegiate Nationals
April 15–18, 2027 · Richmond, VA
High School Nationals
Varsity & Junior Varsity
All-American honors · Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds
Collegiate Nationals
Collegiate
All-American honors · University Worlds · NAPF University Cup · Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds
Both titles are contested at the same event, with team scoring by school. Entry requirements for each division publish on the event page.
Age Division Nationals
April 27 – May 2, 2027 · Lake Tahoe, NV
Sub-Junior & Junior Nationals
Sub-Junior · Junior
Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds · North Americans
Masters Nationals
Masters I to IV
Masters Worlds · North Americans
Equipped Nationals
Open
Equipped Worlds · North Americans
Military, Police & Fire Nationals
First Responders & Service
Hands Across the Sea (military only)
Youth & Pre-Sub-Junior
Youth 8 to 11 · Pre-Sub-Junior 12 to 13
Medals awarded on successful attempts
Special Olympics
Special Olympics men & women
IPF Worlds (held alongside Equipped Worlds) · North Americans
The largest event on the calendar. Six national championships run together on shared platforms, from youth lifters through Masters IV.
How You Qualify
Most national championships require a qualifying total from a Powerlifting America, NAPF, IPF, or IPF affiliate event within that championship’s qualifying window. Your qualifying total also sets your flight seeding. Exact windows, deadlines, and any division specific requirements publish on each championship page.
A current Powerlifting America membership is required to enter any sanctioned competition, including every national championship.
The Season Starts Local
Every lifter on a national platform qualified at a local meet first. Find one near you and start the season.