BREAKING: UDA Nationals 2026 schedule is live in Orlando, and the action is already flying. The UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship has taken over ESPN Wide World of Sports for a full weekend of prelims, semifinals, and finals. If you need the when, where, and how to watch, you are in the right place. Let’s get you set for every block, every division, and every title push. 🔥
How the weekend is built
College dance at UDA Nationals runs in waves across multiple stages at the complex. Teams move from prelims to semifinals, then fight for finals spots in four main divisions, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pom, and Dance Game Day. Expect morning blocks for early rounds and packed evening sessions as fields narrow. Orders of performance, time stamps, and live scoring updates are posted in real time on the official event hub and refreshed throughout the day.
The biggest programs usually land in Division IA, the top tier for the largest schools. Smaller schools and emerging programs battle in Division I and Open classes, where the margins are thin and the choreography can be fearless. The energy builds fast in Orlando, and the finals floor turns into a pressure cooker. Every count matters.
This is the college championship. The UDA National Dance Team Championship for high school teams comes later. Do not mix the two.
Where to find the official schedule
The master schedule lives on the UDA and Varsity Spirit event hub. You will see division pages with performance order, venue assignments, and scoring panels. Those pages update during the day as scratches, delays, or tie break rounds occur. Bookmark the hub and refresh before each block. If you are following a single team, lock in on their division dashboard to avoid missing a round.
Go to the UDA College Nationals event hub, pick your division, then open the Order of Performance and Live Results tabs. Refresh often.
Key blocks to watch
- Division IA Jazz finals, the closing showpiece
- Division IA Pom finals, precision and power
- Division IA Hip Hop finals, pure athletic heat
- Dance Game Day finals, band energy meets sideline craft
How to watch live
Every mat and floor stream is on Varsity TV with a FloSports subscription. Select Game Day moments are free through FloMarching’s Game Day Live window. That free window runs during specific blocks, so check the timing on event day.
- Open Varsity TV and search UCA and UDA College Nationals.
- Choose your venue stream for the current block.
- For free Game Day Live, open FloMarching at the posted window.
- Use the event hub’s order of performance to follow along in real time.
Finals videos publish quickly after each block. Replays help compare routines when the scoring gets tight.
What will decide the titles
In Jazz, lines and textures tell the story. Look for clean picture changes, controlled turns, and musical breath. One wobble in a group pirouette can swing a podium spot. In Pom, sharpness and stamina win. Unison arms, level changes, and field coverage must hit the same count. In Hip Hop, difficulty has climbed again. Teams layer tricks with footwork and musicality, and judges reward clarity over chaos. Game Day is its own art. Authentic spirit, fight song form, and crowd-leading skills carry weight.
Expect the usual heavy hitters in the title mix. Minnesota sets the bar in Jazz and Pom with edge to edge clarity. Ohio State has turned finals into a clinic in both performance quality and big moment control. LSU brings swagger and speed changes that punch through a crowded field. UNLV’s Rebel Girls are a force in Hip Hop, where timing and athletic dynamics separate contenders from the pack. Florida State, Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa, and Kentucky all bring veteran coaching, deep rosters, and proven finals poise. Watch how these teams manage quick turnarounds between divisions. That stamina and mental reset often decides Sunday hardware.
On the ground in Orlando
This event stretches across the complex, and the culture is part of the show. Families, alumni, and bands fill the seats. Teams juggle hair changes, costume swaps, and warmups on tight clocks. Coaches keep eyes on scoring sheets and make late tweaks in timing or facings. The atmosphere is loud and fast, but the best programs thrive in that chaos. Expect packed houses for Division IA finals and emotional scenes as seniors close their careers under the lights.
If you are tracking multiple divisions, move with intent. Venue transitions can take time. Plan your finals route in advance, then lock in before the big blocks start.
- Leave extra time between blocks for venue lines
- Screenshot orders of performance for backup offline access
- Charge your phone before finals start
- Note the last call time for each division
UDA Nationals is built on details. The teams that stay clean, read the music, and finish strong will lift trophies.
Conclusion
The UDA Nationals 2026 schedule is active, and every path to the podium is now set. Use the event hub for live orders and scores, stream on Varsity TV, and catch the free Game Day Live window when it opens. The weekend will move fast. The dance will be fierce. We will be tracking each block and the title races through finals. See you on the floor.
