Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 16, 2026)—The 2027 USA Ultimate College Championships have been awarded to Salt Lake City, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States announced today following the approval of a bid submitted by the organization’s Tier 2 Affiliate, the Utah Ultimate Disc Association (UUDA), and local partners Sports Salt Lake and the Utah Sports Commission.
The successful bid includes both USA Ultimate’s Division I and Division III tournaments, marking the first time either event will be held in Utah. The D-III championships will take place May 22-24, followed by the D-I championships May 28-31 – both at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex.
“We are thrilled to bring the College Championships to Salt Lake City,” said USA Ultimate CEO Kevin Erlenbach. “Utah Ultimate submitted an outstanding bid that reflects years of experience delivering first-class events, strong local partnerships and a genuine commitment to creating a welcoming experience for everyone involved. Combined with an exceptional championship venue and the support of community officials, we’re confident this will be a wonderful experience for our student-athletes and their families, fans and the broader ultimate community.”
“The first-ever USA Ultimate College Championships in Utah reinforce our reputation as a premier destination for championship-level events,” added Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “When organizations like USA Ultimate, the UDDA and our local partners come together, we can create opportunities to showcase the passion, hospitality and sports culture that make Utah the State of Sport.”
First contested in 1984, the D-I Championships feature 40 teams (20 each in the men’s and women’s divisions) from major colleges and universities across North America. The D-III Championships were later introduced in 2010 and host 32 teams (16 in each division) from smaller institutions with enrollment of up to 10,000 students.
All totaled, more than 2,200 student-athletes will travel to Salt Lake City for the culmination of the competitive college ultimate season and a shot at one of four national titles over a 10-day span.
Since USA Ultimate implemented a championship for D-III schools 18 years ago, 2027 also marks just the fourth time both the D-I and D-III tournaments will have been hosted in the same location (2021-22, 2025).
In awarding the 2027 College Championships to Salt Lake City, USA Ultimate brings one of its flagship properties to a fervent and thriving ultimate community with a history of hosting high-level tournaments, including regional championships and Triple Crown Tour events. It also joins a robust sports landscape that features dozens of major national-level tournaments and events annually across a wide spectrum of amateur athletics, including archery, baseball, climbing, fencing, hockey, soccer, softball, rugby, volleyball and many others.
“Bringing the College Championships to Salt Lake City is a reflection of everything our community has built together and represents an incredible opportunity to showcase what Utah Ultimate is all about,” commented tournament director and UUDA President Joe Strong. “We’re excited to welcome the best college teams in the country and share our passion for ultimate, our hospitality and our incredible community.”
“On behalf of Visit Salt Lake and Sports Salt Lake, we are thrilled to have been entrusted as a destination and host venue for both championship tournaments,” added Sports Salt Lake Chief Sports Officer Clay Partain. “We’re grateful for the support of our local partners, especially the Utah Ultimate Disc Association, and the entire Salt Lake County ultimate community and are proud and excited to welcome participating athletes, their families and ultimate fans from around the country.”
The 2026 College Championships wrapped up this past spring with Massachusetts and Carleton College earning national titles in the men’s and women’s D-I ranks and Middlebury College sweeping both divisions in D-III.
A pair of national championship-caliber teams also call Salt Lake City home with the University of Utah having most recently qualified for the D-I Championships in both the men’s and women’s divisions in 2026 and 2025 respectively.
