USDAA 2026 Season - Celebrating 40 Years of Dog Agility in the United States
2026 Tournament Rules - click here
The 2026 tournament season marks the 40th anniversary of dog agility competition in the United States. Our inaugural official USDAA event was held November 9–10, 1986, in Houston, Texas. To honor four decades of innovation and athleticism, the 2026 season will culminate with the Cynosport® World Games on November 11–15, 2026, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, 40 years from the day.
Photo: First team to compete abroad representing the United States and taking the Bronze medal at the FCI World Dog Show in Dortmund, Germany in 1991. Kneeling, left to right: Stuart Mah with mix-breed Shannon, Felicia Whalen with Border collie Dash, Sharon Nelson with Australian shepherd Mike, and J.C. Thompson with Border collie Robby. Standing: Team Captain Kenneth Tatsch.
Key Dates & Season Structure
- Season Opener: Local Qualifying Events begin September 3, 2025 and continue through September 7, 2026.
- Season Finale: Cynosport® World Games November 11–15, 2026, Tucson, AZ.
- Qualifiers & Progression: Competitors advance through Local and Regional Championships to the Cynosport World Games.
Rules for 2026:
All regulations will remain the same as the current year except for the following updates:
- FEO Runs:
- For 2026, “For Exhibition Only” (FEO) runs will be permitted only at Local Qualifying Events for titling and tournament classes. No Tournament FEO entries will be allowed at Regional Championships, or at Cynosport.
- Super Bye Time Standards:
- Local Super Byes granting byes into Regional Finals will adhere to the same time standards currently used for Super Bye qualifiers into the Cynosport Semifinals.
Competitors are encouraged to review the full rulebook, including Chapter 10 (tournament definitions) and the 2026 Tournament Eligibility Rules, to ensure compliance with these changes. All other rules remain unchanged for 2026. As a reminder, in each round of a Biathlon, each wrong course shall be scored 20 faults instead of being marked as an elimination, and each refusal (without limitation) shall be faulted as a 5-fault penalty.
As a very special year, planning for special activities are underway, including a run on the original 1986 course and other social activities, in addition to dock diving and flying disc events.
We look forward to a milestone season celebrating our sport’s past, present, and future. See you on course!