2026 Winter Cup Gymnastics: Full Schedule, How to Watch, and Key Storylines

Jenny Lee February 18, 2026 | 10:47

Get the complete 2026 Winter Cup schedule, start times, and streaming details. Learn how to watch on YouTube and FlipNow, plus key storylines from Louisville.

USA Gymnastics’ Winter Cup kicks off the 2026 season February 21-22

The U.S. elite gymnastics calendar hits “go” in Louisville, Kentucky, with the 2026 Winter Cup set for February 21–22 at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC).

Winter Cup has become one of the most fan-friendly meets on the domestic circuit: compact, high-stakes, and now easier than ever to stream. USA Gymnastics is once again putting every competition session on its official YouTube channel for free worldwide, while podium training is available through FlipNow (subscription or pay-per-view).

If you’re trying to plan your weekend viewing, this guide has the full schedule, start times, streaming links, and what the results mean as athletes begin the chase toward summer’s biggest meets.

What is the Winter Cup and why does it matter?

Winter Cup is an early-season checkpoint that helps set the tone for the year, especially for athletes aiming to climb the national-team ladder. In 2026, USA Gymnastics notes that Winter Cup serves as a qualifying event to the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, and it will also culminate in the selection of the Men’s Senior National Team after the competition.

That combination—qualification implications plus national-team decisions—makes routines here feel less like a warm-up and more like an audition. For fans, it’s also a first real look at upgrades, new choreography, and lineup depth right out of the gate.

Where is it held?

Venue: Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC)
City: Louisville, Kentucky
Dates: February 21–22, 2026

Louisville has become a familiar Winter Cup home in recent years, and the centralized location makes it an accessible travel weekend for many clubs and college programs.

2026 Winter Cup full schedule (all times Eastern)

USA Gymnastics and the Winter Cup event site both publish session times. Because schedules can shift, the safest approach is to treat times as subject to change and re-check on event day.

Friday, Feb. 20 — Podium Training (FlipNow)

Podium training is your “behind-the-scenes” preview: athletes test routines on the competition floor, often giving clues about upgrades.

8:00 a.m. ET — Junior Women
10:30 a.m. ET — Senior Women
1:30 p.m. ET — Elite Team Cup
4:00 p.m. ET — Senior Men

Watch: FlipNow (subscription or PPV).

Saturday, Feb. 21 — Elite Team Cup + Senior Men

1:30 p.m. ET — Elite Team Cup
Senior Men — evening session
- USA Gymnastics news release lists 7:15 p.m. ET
- The Winter Cup event info lists 7:00 p.m. ET (subject to change)

Practical tip: Plan for a 7:00–7:15 p.m. ET start window and tune in a little early.

Sunday, Feb. 22 — Junior Women + Senior Women

Junior Women — midday session
- USA Gymnastics news release lists 11:45 a.m. ET
- The Winter Cup event info lists 12:00 p.m. ET (subject to change)
Senior Women — late afternoon session
- USA Gymnastics news release lists 5:00 p.m. ET
- The Winter Cup event info lists 5:30 p.m. ET (subject to change)

Again, the simplest approach is to treat these as approximate start blocks and confirm on the official channels on Sunday.

How to watch Winter Cup 2026 live

1) Free worldwide livestream: USA Gymnastics YouTube

USA Gymnastics says all sessions—including Elite Team Cup—will stream live on the official USA Gymnastics YouTube channel, with Winter Cup included as part of its broader 2026 streaming plan.

Best for: Most viewers. Fast, easy, no paywall.

2) Podium training stream: FlipNow (subscription or PPV)

If you want podium training, it’s on FlipNow.tv, available to subscribers and via pay-per-view options.

Best for: Fans who like seeing upgrades early, coaches, and anyone who wants extra context before competition.

3) Live results

The Winter Cup event information page points to live results pages for each segment (Elite Team Cup, Men’s Winter Cup, Women’s Winter Cup).

Best for: Second-screen tracking, verifying scores during routines, and following along if you join the stream late.

Who’s on commentary?

The Winter Cup event site notes commentary from Paul Juda, Trinity Thomas, and Christian Marsh for the livestream.

What is the Elite Team Cup?

Elite Team Cup (formerly the Elite Regional Championships) is a high-energy men’s junior team event that adds a different flavor to the weekend. The format features six men’s regional teams, each with eight junior elite gymnasts. Team scores are calculated with eight athletes competing on each event and the top six scores counting.

That scoring system rewards depth and consistency—exactly what you want from a regional pipeline event—and it’s one of the quickest ways to spot rising names before they become senior regulars.

Athletes to watch and early clues (Senior Men example)

Winter Cup rosters can evolve, but rotation/start documents can offer a snapshot of who’s expected on the floor and how the session may flow. The published senior men’s rotation schedule includes notable names such as Fred Richard and Yul Moldauer among the listed competitors.

Why it matters: Winter Cup often becomes the first major public comparison point of the year—who looks ready now, who’s pacing, and who has new difficulty that changes the conversation.

(If you’re writing your own preview or social post, consider pulling a few “watch list” names from the official athlete registration list on the Winter Cup site and linking readers there for the most current roster.)

Tickets, venue details, and fan rules

Tickets and venue

The Winter Cup site lists single-day ticket passes and confirms the venue address at KICC in downtown Louisville.

Photo/video policy (important)

If you’re attending in person, the event info includes restrictions such as no video recording (including phone video), limits on professional photography equipment, and rules for signage sizes.

For many fans, the easiest way to avoid issues is simple: enjoy the routines in the moment, take still photos only where allowed, and keep signs within the posted size guidelines.

A simple viewing plan for the weekend

If you want a clean, no-stress watch schedule:

Friday: Check out podium training on FlipNow if you like seeing routines early.
Saturday: Tune in for Elite Team Cup in the afternoon, then settle in for Senior Men at night.
Sunday: Watch Junior Women midday, then finish with Senior Women late afternoon/early evening.

And if you’re sharing this guide with friends: tell them the key detail upfront—competition sessions are free on YouTube—so nobody assumes it’s locked behind a subscription.

Final reminders

All times are Eastern and schedules can shift—re-check the official schedule on event day.
YouTube = free for all competition sessions.
FlipNow = podium training (subscription or PPV).
Winter Cup results connect directly to bigger 2026 goals, including U.S. Championships qualification and men’s national team selection.

Jenny Lee

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