Junior Gold Championships headed to Minnesota for first time in 2026
July 18, 2025
ARLINGTON, Texas – Minneapolis, Minnesota, will host youth bowling’s most prestigious tournament for the first time when the Junior Gold Championships heads to the Twin Cities in 2026.
In addition to the Junior Gold Championships, all United States Bowling Congress Youth members will have the opportunity to compete in the Bowling.com Youth Open Championships and Survivor Tournaments, which will be conducted in the Minneapolis area, during a timeframe very similar to that of Junior Gold.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships will run July 11-18 at multiple bowling centers in and around the Twin Cities. The Youth Open Championships will take place July 8-10, 17-19 and 25-26, while the Survivor Tournament will be held on July 17-18.
The USA Bowling national finals also will be held in the Greater Minneapolis area during that time with competition scheduled for July 9-10.
Junior Gold week will kick off with fun-filled activities like the Product Showcase and trade show, which will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships Opening Ceremony will take place at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, which is located in Eagan, Minnesota, and serves as the world headquarters, training facility and training camp home of the Minnesota Vikings.
Although the greater Minneapolis area and venues like Cedarvale Lanes have hosted several elite-level bowling tournaments over the years, the 2026 event will mark the first time the Junior Gold Championships will be contested in Minnesota.
“We’re proud to welcome the Junior Gold Championships to Minneapolis in 2026,” said Melvin Tennant, President and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “This event brings together thousands of the nation’s most talented youth bowlers and their families, and we’re excited to showcase our region’s outstanding bowling venues, world-class hospitality and vibrant downtown. With venues set to be utilized throughout the Minneapolis region, we’re ready to roll out the red carpet for an unforgettable experience.”
In addition to Cedarvale Lanes, host centers for the 2026 Junior Gold Championships will include each of the following locations: AMF Saxon Lanes; AMF Southtown; Bowlero Blaine; Bowlero Brooklyn Park; Bowlero Eden Prairie; Bowlero Lakeville; Drkula’s 32 Bowl; Mermaid Entertainment & Event Center and Concord Lanes.
“The Minneapolis area is an incredible bowling environment with several outstanding centers and a strong, passionate and highly supportive community of bowlers who dedicate themselves to the sport both on and off the lanes,” said Gary Brown, Senior Director of Short-Duration Tournaments and Collegiate Bowling. “It will be great for our Junior Gold bowlers and their families to experience this amazing area and all that it has to offer for themselves at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.”
For more information on Junior Gold, CLICK HERE.
In addition to the Junior Gold Championships, all United States Bowling Congress Youth members will have the opportunity to compete in the Bowling.com Youth Open Championships and Survivor Tournaments, which will be conducted in the Minneapolis area, during a timeframe very similar to that of Junior Gold.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships will run July 11-18 at multiple bowling centers in and around the Twin Cities. The Youth Open Championships will take place July 8-10, 17-19 and 25-26, while the Survivor Tournament will be held on July 17-18.
The USA Bowling national finals also will be held in the Greater Minneapolis area during that time with competition scheduled for July 9-10.
Junior Gold week will kick off with fun-filled activities like the Product Showcase and trade show, which will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The 2026 Junior Gold Championships Opening Ceremony will take place at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, which is located in Eagan, Minnesota, and serves as the world headquarters, training facility and training camp home of the Minnesota Vikings.
Although the greater Minneapolis area and venues like Cedarvale Lanes have hosted several elite-level bowling tournaments over the years, the 2026 event will mark the first time the Junior Gold Championships will be contested in Minnesota.
“We’re proud to welcome the Junior Gold Championships to Minneapolis in 2026,” said Melvin Tennant, President and CEO of Meet Minneapolis. “This event brings together thousands of the nation’s most talented youth bowlers and their families, and we’re excited to showcase our region’s outstanding bowling venues, world-class hospitality and vibrant downtown. With venues set to be utilized throughout the Minneapolis region, we’re ready to roll out the red carpet for an unforgettable experience.”
In addition to Cedarvale Lanes, host centers for the 2026 Junior Gold Championships will include each of the following locations: AMF Saxon Lanes; AMF Southtown; Bowlero Blaine; Bowlero Brooklyn Park; Bowlero Eden Prairie; Bowlero Lakeville; Drkula’s 32 Bowl; Mermaid Entertainment & Event Center and Concord Lanes.
“The Minneapolis area is an incredible bowling environment with several outstanding centers and a strong, passionate and highly supportive community of bowlers who dedicate themselves to the sport both on and off the lanes,” said Gary Brown, Senior Director of Short-Duration Tournaments and Collegiate Bowling. “It will be great for our Junior Gold bowlers and their families to experience this amazing area and all that it has to offer for themselves at the 2026 Junior Gold Championships.”
For more information on Junior Gold, CLICK HERE.