after a six-year hiatus, the prestigious American Cup gymnastics competition is set to return in March 2026, hosted at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada [3]. The event, first held in 1976 adn famously won that year by Nadia Comaneci [1], will undergo a important transformation with the debut of a mixed team format. This innovative competition, featuring one male and one female gymnast per participating country, will also serve as a key preview for the mixed team event slated to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics [1].
American Cup Returns in 2026, Will Preview LA28 Mixed Team Event
The American Cup is back on the gymnastics calendar, USA Gymnastics announced Monday, November 17th. The prestigious competition, first held in 1976 when Nadia Comaneci claimed the title en route to her historic Olympic performance at Montreal 1976, hasn’t been held since March 2020.
The event, which has evolved over the decades as both an apparatus and all-around International Gymnastics Federation World Cup, is set to take place on March 7, 2026, in suburban Las Vegas. This edition will feature a new format: a mixed team competition with eight countries vying for the title.
Each team will be comprised of one male and one female gymnast, offering a dynamic and exciting new challenge. The mixed team event is also slated to make its debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, making the American Cup a key preview opportunity.
“We are thrilled to bring back American Cup in a new format,” said Stefanie Korepin, USA Gymnastics Chief Programmes Officer, in a statement released by the federation. “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.”
The Nastia Liukin Cup, a premier Level 10 meet in the United States, will be held alongside the American Cup, adding to the excitement for gymnastics fans.
