In a move that underscores its commitment to delivering premier youth sports experiences, Pop Warner Little Scholars, the nation’s leading youth football and cheerleading organization, has announced that its highly anticipated 2025 and 2026 Pop Warner Super Bowl and Cheer & Dance Nationals will take place in Charlotte, N.C.
The move marks the first time since 1995 that Pop Warner National Championships won’t be held in Orlando, Fla.
The Pop Warner Super Bowl is scheduled for December 6-13 at the state-of-the-art Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews, which boasts nine synthetic turf, multipurpose lighted fields and two natural grass fields, along with a 4,300-seat stadium with natural grass, lights, and videoboard.
The Pop Warner Cheer & Dance Nationals will be held December 8-11, 2025 at the 600,000 square-foot Charlotte Convention Center, which is conveniently located downtown, steps from hotels, attractions, dining and entertainment.
In addition to a new venue this year, Pop Warner will host a new Flag Football tournament as part of its Super Bowl week. The inaugural tournament will bring together some of the best flag teams from across the country.
“Charlotte is an incredible city with a rich sports culture, top-notch hospitality, and endless entertainment options, making it the perfect host for the Pop Warner National Championships,” said Steve Strawbridge, Pop Warner President & CEO. “We’re thrilled to bring one of youth sports’ most prestigious events to such a vibrant community and provide our young student-athletes and their families with an unforgettable championship experience. We can’t wait to showcase the talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship of our participants on this exciting new stage.”
“We are excited to welcome the Pop Warner Super Bowl and Cheer & Dance Nationals to Charlotte in 2025 and 2026. Our city is passionate about sports and youth development, and we look forward to providing an unforgettable experience for these talented young athletes, their families, and fans,” said Scott McLaughlin, Director of Sports Development at Visit Charlotte.
FCS, the championship events partner for the last five seasons in Orlando, will continue to partner with Pop Warner to organize and manage the events in Charlotte.
“We’re excited for the new challenge to take these championship events ‘on the road’ to Charlotte,” said Steve Hogan, FCS CEO. “The Queen City was a great host to our FC Series event in the past and we look forward to working with the local community to create a great experience for the Pop Warner athletes and their families.”
“The Carolina Panthers are proud of the team’s long-standing close relationship with Pop Warner Little Scholars in which the team has provided resources, opportunities and experiences for thousands of Pop Warner players, coaches and cheerleaders over the years. Pop Warner has an established legacy of being national leader in youth football development,” said Riley Fields, Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations. “We are thrilled for Charlotte to host the Pop Warner Super Bowl as the best of youth football is showcased on a national stage.”
More details on the championships in Charlotte, including the new flag football event, will be announced later this year. The dates for the 2026 championships will be announced next year. Each year, the Pop Warner Super Bowl and Cheer & Dance Nationals bring together 10,000 student-athletes and their families from across the country. This year, participants will enjoy access to world-class attractions and amenities, as Charlotte offers an exciting backdrop for the prestigious national competition.