Season 13 National Championships | Kansas City, MO | August 3-9, 2026
The high point of every year is the Aerialympics Nationals competition! We offer performers a true, on-stage experience at the Liberty Performing Arts Center (LPAT) in Kansas City, Missouri.
In the Wild
Anyone may register to compete In the Wild (virtually) from anywhere in the world, even if you didn’t compete in any of the regional events this season. In the Wild performers do not compete against LIVE performers. In the Wild winners receive medals that are labeled “Nationals” or “Finals” and all In the Wild competitors receive a special Nationals pin. In the Wild Nationals performers are eligible for end-of-season awards. In the Wild registration opens June 7, 2026.
LIVE
LIVE participation is by invitation only. Invitations are at the discretion of event organizers. Performers achieving a minimum qualifying score in their division may be extended an invitation. LIVE performers must accept their reservations by paying a $100 non-refundable fee no later than June 27. This fee will be applied to the total registration fee, which is due no later than July 5. See the Pricing page for the total amount. Payment may be made by individuals or as a team.
If you are part of a team, make sure you coordinate with your coach on payment so you do not double pay. Acceptance fees are non-refundable. Only entries that have paid the full registration fee will be added to the Summary of Entries.
Read the Participant Guide to understand how performance day runs, where to park, how to request a badge, and other key information.
Tickets
Ticket sales open soon.
MAKE SURE YOU READ AND UNDERSTAND THE SCHEDULE BEFORE PURCHASING TICKETS. NATIONALS DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN AS REGIONAL EVENTS.
TICKETS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE. TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. ONCE YOU PURCHASE TICKETS, THEY ARE YOURS.
Exceptions:
See the Participant Guide for rules around badges that grant free entry.
Online Viewing
We do not live stream any performances. Please do not stream performances from your device. Do not take pictures of any performer who is not a member of your family or part of your team.
All performers and coaches will be given access to view all available performances. Access will be automatically granted to the email addresses supplied during registration. Some performances will not be available for viewing at the discretion of event management. This free access is to view performances only and does not grant download access.
Everyone else can purchase access to view all videos for the event for $20. We will not be granting access to individual performances or divisions due to administrative overhead.
Access will be available approximately one week after the event is over and stays up for 6 weeks after the final day of the event, after which videos are archived.
Performance videos are view-only and not downloadable unless purchased. If you are a performer and would like to download your video, please purchase it through the link below. This is typically the best way to share viewing with friends and family, because you can post or share your video directly with them. Competitors will receive a link to download purchased video approximately one week after the end of the competition.
Venue
1600 S Withers Road • Liberty, MO 64068
Note: All entry is from the rear, whether you are a performer or audience member. Drive around the back to the rear parking area and enter through the rear doors. They will be marked by Aerialympics signs.
Do not go to the main doors. If you go to the main doors, the ushers will direct you to go back outside and around the building.
Backstage
You will only be permitted backstage if you have a performer or coach lanyard that indicates access for that day.
Volunteers will be monitoring backstage activity and have the right to ask anyone to leave, whether they have a lanyard or not. Individuals or teams not respecting backstage volunteers may be disqualified without a refund.
If you need additional backstage access, email [email protected] for consideration. We will not necessarily honor all requests and teams will be limited to one adult backstage, in addition to the coach.
Private pop-up change huts will be situated in the green room and directly offstage, near the production table, stage left.
From the Host Studio
Cloud Nine Aerial Arts is so excited to be hosting Aerialympics Season 11 National Finals!
Our goal is to make every coach and performer feel welcomed, appreciated, and like part of the family! We are offering a number of open practice times, apparatus rentals, and resources for visiting performers. Please reach out if there is anything else that we can help you with while you are here!
Waivers (2 Required when competing LIVE)
All Performers (LIVE and In the Wild) are required to sign an Aerialympics waiver before performing.
Waivers must be signed by the deadline (Thursday, May 23) to avoid incurring deductions.
Waivers for performers who are not yet 18 must be signed by the performer’s legal parent or guardian.
All LIVE performers are also required to sign a waiver for the host studio (Cloud Nine Aerial Arts) prior to competing.
This is a second waiver, separate from the one you already signed for the Aerialympics.
Apparatus
You are welcome and encouraged to bring your own apparatus to meet any specific needs you might have. All apparatus will undergo an assessment by our head rigger prior to being used in the event.
The following are supplied by the host studio for the competition.
Rig Point
Height is adjustable - standard height will be approximately 21’
Silks
White low-medium stretch, 108” wide
Hammock
White low-medium stretch, 108” wide
Lyra
Single point 34'', 36'' taped
Health and Safety
Top-of-mind for many competitors is how to navigate the ever-changing Covid landscape. At this time we're going with the rules in whatever location we're holding the competition, and for this event that means no vaccine requirements, no masking requirement, and no social distancing requirement. We will, of course, support the personal decisions of each person who attends, but we believe medical decisions are best made between individuals and their doctors and parents (if they are a minor). We are encouraging anyone who feels uncomfortable with this decision to perform using the virtual option, which allows everyone to have more control over their environment.
Another question we occasionally receive is emergency care. After extensive conversation with studio owners and performers we are taking the common-sense approach of knowing when to call the professionals, rather than having a dedicated medical individual on staff. Much like when you attend your regular classes or engage in performance opportunities, we will rely on the excellent emergency response of local health care providers. Again, if you are uncomfortable with this decision, please use the virtual performance option, where you can arrange your own medical professionals to be available to you, should you wish.
Important Dates and Deadlines
In the Wild
Registration Opens - June 7, 2026
Registration Deadline - July 5, 2026
Last Day to Schedule In the Wild Recording - July 18, 2026
Waiver Deadline - July 19, 2026
Last Day to Record In the Wild - July 19, 2026
Last Day to Submit Recording - July 20, 2026
In the Wild Awards - Thursday, August 6 - 7:00 PM onstage and via Instagram Live
LIVE
Music Deadline - July 19, 2026
Note: If you signed a waiver already in Season 13, you do not need to sign it again
After the Event
Online Viewing Links Emailed - Within 1 week of the end of the event.
Medals Mailed - Within 2 weeks of the end of the event.
Judge Feedback Emailed - Within 3 weeks of the end of the event.
Workshops, Rehearsal, and Practice Time
We will not be having workshops this season so that we can focus on time for Ensembles. Rehearsal and practice times will be announced once we know if there will be time available.