National YoYo League Presents
20★27

National Yo‑Yo Contest

June 25–27, 2027 Las Vegas, NV
--days --hrs --min until Nationals
2027 registration, venue, hotel, and schedule details coming soon.
Thomas Rajan, 2026 1A Finals. Photo: Dan Dauer
About the contest

America’s yo-yo championship,
since 1993.

Every summer the best players in the country gather for three days of competition across all five styles of play, from 1A single-hand string tricks to 5A counterweight. Anyone can enter, from first-time competitors to world-class freestylers.

Presented by the National Yo-Yo League (NYYL), the contest crowns the U.S. National Yo-Yo Champions, who earn a seed at the World Yo-Yo Contest.

Read the contest history →

Championship Divisions
1A

Single Hand String Trick

One long-spinning yoyo, string tied to the yoyo and the hand. The most common style.
2A

Two Hands Looping Trick

Two short-spinning yoyos, one on each hand. Looping style.
3A

Two Hands String Trick

Two long-spinning yoyos, one on each hand.
4A

Offstring

Off-string. The string is attached to your hand but not the yoyo.
5A

Counterweight

Counterweight. The string is attached to the yoyo but not your hand. Instead, the free end is attached to a counterweight.

Division photos from the 2026 National Yo-Yo Contest by Carlo Cavaluzzi and Dan Dauer.

Special Divisions

In addition to the main divisions, the contest also features special divisions designed to foster inclusivity and celebrate diverse styles and competitors.

Sports Freestyle Division

A welcoming, performance-focused division open to players of all skill levels and grouped by age, perfect for those looking to experience competitive yo-yoing in a more relaxed format.

Doc Lucky’s Duo Division

Introduced to spotlight collaborative creativity, this division features two players performing a synchronized 2-minute freestyle routine. Judging emphasizes entertainment value (50%), uniqueness and creativity (30%), interaction between players (10%), and technical skill (10%). Performances often incorporate costumes, props, music, and theatrical elements to captivate the audience.

Over 40 Division

Highlighting the passion and skill of veteran players.

Women’s Freestyle Division

Celebrating the incredible talent of female competitors, this division aims to create a supportive and empowering space for women in yo-yoing.
Sports 1A, Ages 13 to 17, 2026. Photo: Dan Dauer
Advanced Youth 1A Division, 2026. Photo: Dan Dauer
Doc Lucky’s Duos Division, 2026. Photo: Dan Dauer
Over 40 Division, 2026. Photo: Dan Dauer
Women’s Division, 2026. Photo: Dan Dauer
The full list of divisions, fees, and important dates is on the Register to Compete page.
How to qualify

Road to Nationals

Anyone can compete at Nationals by entering the open preliminary round. In 1A, regionals are optional, but strong finishes there let you skip ahead to the semifinals or straight to the finals. The 2A to 5A divisions follow a shorter path, shown below.

1A Championship path

Before Nationals · Optional

Regionals

Compete at NYYL regional contests during the season to earn a head start. 1st place at a major regional (PNWR, NER, RMR or MWR) earns a seed straight to the finals; 2nd to 5th skips ahead to the semifinals.

Round 1 · Open to all

Preliminaries

Open to every competitor. A 60-second routine. The top 20 preliminary scores advance to the semifinals.

Round 2

Semifinals

A 90-second routine against regional qualifiers and the top preliminary players, competing for the remaining finals spots.

Round 3

Finals

Fifteen players, 3-minute routines: the regional champions, the defending National Champion, and the top semifinalists.

2A, 3A, 4A and 5A (X Division): an open preliminary round, then a 6-player final. The top regional finisher in each division and the defending National Champions are seeded into the final.

The National Champion title is open to U.S. citizens and full-time U.S. residents; international players compete in the International Open.

Schedule

Three days of competition. The daily schedule for 2027 will be posted on the Schedule page.
★ Friday
June 25
2027
★ Saturday
June 26
2027
★ Sunday
June 27
2027
2027 schedule details coming soon.

2026 National Champions

Winners earn the prestigious title of U.S. National Yo-Yo Champion and the opportunity to represent the country at the World Yo-Yo Contest.
★

The path to Worlds
Each U.S. National Champion earns a seed to the semifinals of the World Yo-Yo Contest, representing the United States.

★ 1A

Thomas Rajan

★ 2A

Matt Szeto

★ 3A

Aliyah Tan

★ 4A

Ryan Connolly

★ 5A

Sterling Quinn

Special Division Winners

Advanced Youth 1A Division
Women’s
Over 40
1A International
Spintop Championship Freestyle
Sports 1A, Ages 9 & Under
Sports 1A, Ages 10 to 12
Sports 1A, Ages 13 to 17
Sports 1A, Ages 18 & Up
Sports X
Results and photos from compete.yoyocontest.com. Photography by Dan Dauer and Carlo Cavaluzzi.

Competitor and Spectator Information

Registration, judging, spectator passes, volunteering, and results.

Spectators

Spectator passes grant access to the competition room, vendor area, and any workshops on the day(s) you select.
2026 pass pricing, for reference
3-Day Pass (Fri–Sun)$60
Saturday + Sunday Pass$45
Sunday Only$30
Saturday Only$25
Friday Only$15
2027 spectator pass details coming soon.

Travel

★ Las Vegas, NV
The 2027 National Yo-Yo Contest returns to Las Vegas. Venue and hotel details coming soon.

Sponsors

2027 sponsors coming soon. Sponsorship inquiries: Contact@NYYL.org

Attention to all attendees:

The National Yo-Yo League is committed to creating welcoming and inviting spaces for all members of our fantastic community.

At the 2027 National Yo-Yo Contest NYYL’s position continues to be clear: we are openly committed to creating a secure, welcoming, and friendly environment, free from all racism, sexism, sexual misconduct, violence, bullying, and any form of sexual, physical, verbal or emotional abuse during league events.

We will have staff on site who will aim to uphold these values, such that all attendees can enjoy the incredible event we have planned. See you in Vegas!

2026 National Yo-Yo Contest. Photo: Dan Dauer
About the organizer

The National Yo-Yo League

The National Yo-Yo League (NYYL) is the officially recognized organizing body for competitive yo-yo in the United States. NYYL sanctions the regional contest season, maintains the contest rules and judging system, recognizes contributors to the community with honorary awards, and presents the National Yo-Yo Contest, first held in Chico, California in 1993 (see the full history).

The League runs on members and volunteers. Join, help out at an event, or bring a contest to your area.

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