The 2027 National Yo-Yo Contest is happening June 25–27, 2027 in Las Vegas at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Whether this is your first time on stage or you’re competing for a national title, there’s a division for you.
Registration opens soon
Registration for the 2027 contest is not open yet. The divisions and prices below are from the 2026 contest and are shown for reference so you can plan ahead. 2027 pricing will be posted here when registration opens.
$60.00 Base Fee (2026 price) Charged once per competitor. Grants access to the entire event and is added on top of the divisions you enter below. |
Quick Primer: The Five Yo-Yo Styles
Yo-yo competitions are organized around five distinct styles of play, usually referred to by their shorthand (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A). Most of the divisions below are tied to one or more of these styles.
- 1A — one long-spinning yoyo, string tied to the yoyo and the hand. The most common style.
- 2A — two short-spinning yoyos, one on each hand. Looping style.
- 3A — two long-spinning yoyos, one on each hand.
- 4A — off-string. The string is attached to your hand but not the yoyo.
- 5A — counterweight. The string is attached to the yoyo but not your hand. Instead, the free end is attached to a counterweight.
Sports Freestyle Divisions
A low-stress, beginner-friendly division where judges focus on what you do well, not what you miss. There are no negative clicks and no major deductions in Sports, so a missed trick won’t wreck your score. Perfect for first-time competitors or anyone who wants to step on stage without the pressure of the Championship format.
1-minute routines. $15.00 per division.
- Sports 1A – Ages 9 & Under
- Sports 1A – Ages 10 to 12
- Sports 1A – Ages 13 to 17
- Sports 1A – Ages 18 & Up
- Sports X — a combined division for 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A players. All ages welcome.
Advanced Youth 1A Division
A stepping stone between Sports and the full Championship format, built specifically for rising youth 1A players. If you’ve outgrown Sports but aren’t ready to go head-to-head with the national-level field, this is your division.
Ages 17 & Under. 1.5-minute freestyle. $25.00.
Championship Freestyles
The marquee divisions. Championship is where players compete for the title of National Yo-Yo Champion. These are the most competitive divisions of the weekend, with seeds that carry over from regional contests earlier in the season.
At Nationals, 1A runs three rounds: a 1-minute preliminary, a 90-second semifinal, and a 3-minute final. 2A through 5A run a 1-minute preliminary followed by a 3-minute final. See Road to Nationals for how regional placements seed players into later rounds. Judging is a combination of technical clicker scoring (positive and negative clicks) and evaluation scores for Trick Presentation, Performance Quality, Musicality, and Routine Construction.
- 1A Championship — $35.00 (single string-trick style, the main event)
- 2A Championship — $25.00 (two-handed looping)
- 3A Championship — $25.00 (two-handed string tricks)
- 4A Championship — $25.00 (off-string)
- 5A Championship — $25.00 (counterweight)
Women’s Division
A standalone 2-minute freestyle open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Women’s is a finals-only format and can be entered in addition to any Championship division at the same contest.
$25.00. 2-minute routine.
Over 40 Division
A 2-minute freestyle for competitors ages 40 and up. A low-stress format for veteran players to get back on stage and showcase whatever style they want. Choose your weapon: 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, or 5A.
Ages 40+. 2-minute routine. $25.00.
1A International Open
A finals-only 1A freestyle for non-US residents. Competitors travel from around the world to compete for the title of International Open Champion alongside the national field.
Non-US citizens. 2-minute routine. $25.00.
Doc Lucky’s Duos Division
A 2-minute, two-person performance where entertainment is the whole point. Both players must throw a yoyo at some point and must interact on stage. Costumes, props, skits, music gags, dance, comedy, and crowd reaction all factor into the scoring.
Judging weights the entertainment value heavily (50 points Entertainment, 30 points Uniqueness & Creativity, 10 points Interaction, 10 points Skill), so this is less about technical yo-yoing and more about showmanship. One of the weekend’s highlights.
Two competitors per entry. 2-minute routine. Free to enter.
Spintop Championship Freestyle
A 3-minute championship freestyle for spin tops. Many yo-yo players cross over into spin tops, and this division showcases the same fundamentals of trick execution, musicality, and performance applied to a completely different skill toy.
3-minute routine. $15.00.
Add-Ons
Add official event merchandise to your registration. Quantities are limited and pre-orders are strongly recommended. 2027 merchandise will be announced when registration opens; in 2026 the options were:
- National Yo-Yo Contest T-Shirt, $30.00 (Youth Medium through 3XL)
- National Yo-Yo Contest Tote Bag, $30.00
Important Dates
- Registration opens: coming soon
- Registration and music upload deadlines: will be posted when registration opens
- Contest begins: Friday, June 25, 2027 at 10:00 AM PT. Plan on a full day Friday.
- Hotel group rate cut-off: Wednesday, June 9, 2027 (see Travel)
Spectator passes are sold separately on the Spectators page.
For full scoring rules and judging criteria across all divisions, visit the NYYL Freestyle Rules page.
Registration for 2027 is coming soon. Watch this page or follow NYYL for the announcement.