LINCOLN, Neb. (May 20, 2026)– The 42nd annual Cornhusker State Games will officially begin Thursday, July 9, as athletes, families and fans gather for Opening Night festivities outside Pinnacle Bank Arena beginning at 7 p.m. The ceremonial torch lighting will mark the start of 11 consecutive days of competition featuring more than 70 sports held across Nebraska.
This year marks the fourth time the Cornhusker State Games Opening Night has been held outside of Pinnacle Bank Arena. Attendees can look forward to appearances by Audrey Eckert, just the second Nebraskan to earn the Miss USA title, and Taryn Smith, the first American woman to complete the World’s Toughest Row across the Atlantic Ocean solo.
Building on the excitement of previous years, the 2026 Torch Tour is once again bringing the spirit of the Games to communities across Nebraska throughout May. The Nebraska Sports Council hosted torch-lighting celebrations at Cody Park in North Platte and Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island on May 13. The Torch Tour continues May 20 with stops at the Fremont Family YMCA in Fremont and Quail Run Golf Course in Columbus, before wrapping up May 26 at Papillion Landing near Omaha. Each celebration brings athletes, fans and local residents together in anticipation of Nebraska’s largest amateur sports festival.
Registration for the Cornhusker State Games remains open through July 1, though participants are encouraged to register early as several events are expected to fill quickly. A price increase will take effect on June 17 at 11:59 p.m., making earlier registration the best opportunity to secure current entry costs. Additional information and registration details are available at CornhuskerStateGames.com.
All registered participants will receive exclusive discounts and special offers from official Cornhusker State Games partners, including Omaha Steaks, Lincoln Saltdogs, Nebraska State Fair, Revolution Wraps and more.
The Nebraska Sports Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality competition for amateur athletes of all ages and abilities while promoting healthy, active lifestyles. The organization serves as Nebraska’s leader in sports and wellness event management.
Platinum partners include: FMNE Insurance, Grand Island Tourism, Nebraska Orthopaedic Center and Pepsi-Cola of Lincoln.
Diamond partners include: Arby’s of Lincoln, CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Digital Sky, Dormie Network, KOLN KGIN TV, Liberty First Credit Union, News Channel Nebraska, Omaha World Herald, Revolution Wraps, Sampson Construction, Sandhills Global, Sandhills Global Event Center, and WOWT First Alert 6.
Gold partners include: Allo Fiber, Bison, Inc., City of Lincoln, Connoisseur Media, Cox, Electronic Contracting Company, Gateway Mall, Grand Island Independent, Hurrdat Sports, J & H Specialty Contracting, Kawasaki, Lincoln Federal Savings Bank, Nebraska Lottery, Omaha Steaks, Pillar Restaurant Group, Sarpy County Tourism, Visit Fremont and Dodge County, Visit Kearney, Visit Lincoln, Visit North Platte and Visual Edge IT.
Silver partners include: AKRS Equipment / John Deere, Aviture, Black Hills Energy, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Blumenstock Family Eyecare, Bruning Law Group, Casey’s, Certified Piedmontese, Complete Weddings and Events, Cox, Cycle Works, Empire Netting and Fence, Ethan Anderson Rhodig Legacy, Grinnell Mutual, Hiland Dairy, HOME Real Estate, Honda of Lincoln, Kidwell, Lincoln Pediatric Dentistry, Lincoln Saltdogs, Morrow Collision Center, NE Textile & Supply, Nebraska State Fair, NEBRASKAland Days, Norland Pure, Rallis & Bonilla Orthodontics, redthread, Renaissance Financial, Runza, Scheels-Lincoln, Scheels-Omaha, Southeast Community College, Sukup Manufacturing Co./RAMCO, Sysco-Lincoln, TELCOR, T.O. Haas Tire & Auto, Trophies Plus, Unanimous, Yankee Hill Brick, and Younes Hospitality.
Bronze partners include: Ameritas, Arby’s of Omaha, B & R Stores, Chicken Coop Sports Bar & Grill, Commonwealth Electric Company, Crete Carrier/Shaffer Trucking, Dial Senior Living, Emerson Rogers, First Interstate Bank, Fōwling Warehouse Omaha, Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, Graduate Hotels – Lincoln, Hornady, IC Energy Solutions, Image Inflators, Kinkaider Brewing Co., Let’s Pickle, Lincoln Premium Poultry, Midwest Pickleball Club, NDOT Highway Safety Office, Nebraska Sheriffs’ Association, NEST 529, Olsson, Pinnacle Bank, Project ADAM, Quail Run Golf Course, Speece | Lewis A Bowman Company, UBT, UNICO Group, Unlimited Sports Solutions, UNL College of Journalism & Mass Communications, Valentino’s, Visit Columbus and Walmart/Sam’s Club.
Player partners include: Angus Burgers & Shakes, Aspen Builders, Inc., Bluestem Health, Dean Machine, Edgewater Insurance + Real Estate, Firespring, Flexi-Fetch, Kearney SportsPlex, Lincoln Electric System, Lincoln Pediatric Group, Lincoln Stars, SiteScapes, Inc., Sowers Club of Lincoln and The Wellbeing Partners.
Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.