Nationals Season
Powerlifting America holds four national championship events each season, covering all age divisions in classic and equipped.
Event Dates
Jan
22
Bench Press Nationals
January 22–24, 2027 in Corpus Christi, TX
Feb
18
Classic Open Nationals
February 18 to 21, 2027 in Greenville, SC
Apr
15
High School & Collegiate Nationals
April 15–18, 2027 in Richmond, VA
Apr
27
Age Division Nationals
April 27 – May 2, 2027 in Lake Tahoe, NV
Bench Press Nationals
January 22–24, 2027 in Corpus Christi, TX
Bench Press Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
All age divisions
Qualifier for
Bench Press Worlds and Bench Press North Americans
Special Olympics
Classic
Divisions
Special Olympics men & women
Qualifier for
Bench Press Worlds and Bench Press North Americans
Contested on the bench press only, in classic and equipped, for all age divisions and the Special Olympics division.
Classic Open Nationals
February 18 to 21, 2027 in Greenville, SC
Classic Open Nationals
Classic
Divisions
Open
Qualifier for
Classic Worlds and North Americans
Special Olympics
Classic
Divisions
Special Olympics men & women
Qualifier for
North Americans, and the Special Olympics division at Equipped Worlds
Classic lifters in the Open and Special Olympics divisions compete for national titles.
High School & Collegiate Nationals
April 15–18, 2027 in Richmond, VA
High School Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
Varsity & Junior Varsity
Qualifier for
All-American honors and Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds
Collegiate Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
Collegiate
Qualifier for
All-American honors, University Worlds, NAPF University Cup and Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds
Both titles are contested at the same event, with team scoring by school. Entry requirements publish on the High School Nationals and Collegiate Nationals pages.
Age Division Nationals
April 27 – May 2, 2027 in Lake Tahoe, NV
Sub-Junior & Junior Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
Sub-Junior and Junior
Qualifier for
Sub-Jr & Jr Worlds and North Americans
Masters Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
Masters I to IV
Qualifier for
Masters Worlds and North Americans
Equipped Nationals
Equipped
Divisions
Open
Qualifier for
Equipped Worlds and North Americans
Military, Police & Fire Nationals
Classic & Equipped
Divisions
First Responders & Service
Qualifier for
Hands Across the Sea (military only)
Youth & Pre-Sub-Junior
Classic
Divisions
Youth (8 to 11) and Pre-Sub-Junior (12 to 13)
Format
Medals awarded on successful attempts
Sub-Junior & Junior Nationals, Masters Nationals, Equipped Nationals and Military, Police & Fire Nationals run together on shared platforms, with the Youth & Pre-Sub-Junior division.
Qualifying Totals
Bench Press Nationals requires a 25kg bench press, and Classic Open and Age Division Nationals a 75kg total, from a Powerlifting America, NAPF, IPF, or IPF affiliate event on or after January 1, 2025. Collegiate Nationals does not require one, and High School Nationals sets a standard for each weight class. Your qualifying total also sets your flight seeding. Deadlines and any division specific requirements publish on each event page.
You need a current Powerlifting America membership to enter any sanctioned meet, including national championships.
Find a Qualifying Meet
Qualifying totals come from sanctioned meets, listed on the events calendar.