Rockford, Waukegan Picked for 2026 USA Ultimate Collegiate Championships

Rockford and Waukegan, Illinois, have been selected to host the 2026 USA Ultimate College Championships with Rockford hosting Division I and Waukegan hosting Division III.

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The D-I Championships will be held May 22–25 at the Mercyhealth Sportscore Two athletic complex. The D-III tournament will be staged May 16–18 at Waukegan’s Greg Petry Sports Park. Both events will be co-hosted by Illinois Ultimate.

USA Ultimate’s College Championships mark the end of the college ultimate season as more than 600 colleges and universities across North America compete for one of 72 invitations and a chance to compete for one of four national titles.Separated by 70 miles, Waukegan and Rockford are near several hotbeds of the sport, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Madison, Wisconsin.

The D-I tournament will host 40 teams (20 each in the men’s and women’s divisions). The D-III tournament, which caters to schools with undergraduate enrollment of less than 7,500 students, will host 32 teams (16 in each division.) About 2,000 student-athletes will compete over the 10-day span in both events.

“Illinois Ultimate is proud to be hosting the 2026 College Championships,” said Illinois Ultimate Director of Operations Jacob Nuxoll. “With the support of our Chicagoland community, we look forward to welcoming teams and fans back to our state for these premier events.”

Rockford previously hosted the D-III Championships in 2015 and 2018, as well as USA Ultimate’s Club National Championships in 2016. The D-I Championships return to Illinois for only the second time in its 42-year history, with Champaign-Urbana last hosting in 1995.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the D-I College Championships to our community,” said Go Rockford Senior Sales Manager Kara Davis. “Bringing an event of this caliber to our region is not just a win for sports – it’s a celebration of teamwork, passion and the vibrant energy that collegiate athletics brings. We are honored to host some of the most talented young athletes in the nation, and I can’t wait for our local fans, families and businesses to experience the excitement and camaraderie that ultimate fosters.”

“On behalf of Visit Lake County, we are excited and honored to welcome USA Ultimate to Waukegan,” said Teresa Lewis, director of sales. “We are proud to support events that showcase the athletic spirit and energy of out communities. As USA Ultimate brings its passion and talent to the fields of Waukegan, we look forward to providing a warm and memorable experience for all participants, families and fans. With our outstanding facilities, welcoming communities, and passion for sports, we are ready to deliver an unforgettable tournament.”