USA Judo Youth National Championships Return to Salt Lake City in 2027

(Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Judo is pleased to announce the return of its Youth National Championships to Salt Lake City, Utah, for 2027. The event was last held in Salt Lake City in 2025 and annually draws more than 600 of the nation’s best athletes, aged 5-20, to vie for National Championship gold and the opportunity to represent Team USA in international competition. The 2027 event will be held March 20-21 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

“Salt Lake City has the atmosphere of a small town with all the amenities of a big city,” said USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto. “The spacious Salt Palace Convention Center is ideal for our Youth National Championships, and we are looking forward to returning to the city that so proudly and adeptly hosted the event in 2025.”

The announcement reinforces Salt Lake City’s reputation as a world-class sports destination, most notably for having hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and for being the soon-to-be host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

"USA Judo has been an outstanding partner, and we are thrilled to welcome the Youth National Championships back to America’s Mountain City in 2027,” said Clay Partain, Chief Sports Officer for Sports Salt Lake. “Salt Lake offers athletes and families a safe, walkable downtown, world-class facilities, and an unmatched hospitality experience. We look forward to once again showcasing why Salt Lake is one of the nation's premier destinations for championship events.”

Salt Lake City is America’s Mountain City™, a place where the Wasatch mountain peaks frame city streets. Salt Lake is famed for our winter powder (four legendary ski resorts just 30 minutes from downtown), but that's just one season's story. Summer brings hikers through wildflower meadows before they cool off at the Natural History Museum or take in an outdoor concert at Red Butte Gardens. Autumn paints mountain canyons in gold, reds and oranges, perfect for morning strolls that end with patio dining. Spring is when you might spot baby bison on Antelope Island before heading to the Eccles Theater for a Broadway show. The soaring Wasatch Mountains rise dramatically from downtown Salt Lake, creating a place where every day offers both natural wonders and urban energy. And while sitting perfectly between the national parks with Yellowstone's geysers and Utah's red rock country, the real magic happens right here, where everyone can discover their own rhythm between mountain adventure and city life.

“The return of the USA Judo Youth National Championships reflects the confidence national governing bodies have in Utah as a key destination to host their major events,” added Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “With world-class venues and experienced partners, The State of Sport continues to help deliver exceptional events for both athletes and their families.”

ABOUT USA JUDO
A 501-c-3 non-profit organization based in Colorado Springs, USA Judo is the National Governing Body for the sport of judo in the United States. USA Judo serves more than 13,000 members annually, including athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers and supporters. A proud member organization of the International Judo Federation, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Blind Sports Association, USA Judo’s mission is to enable all U.S. athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in domestic and international judo competition, and the promotion and growth of the sport of judo in the United States.
To learn more about USA Judo, visit usajudo.com. For updates on everything USA Judo, follow USA Judo’s social media on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.

ABOUT SPORTS SALT LAKE
Sports Salt Lake is a division of Visit Salt Lake, a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention, sports, and travel destination. Sports Salt Lake’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to sports and athletic events to Salt Lake County. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, visit Visit Salt Lake.

ABOUT UTAH SPORTS COMMISSION
The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst in Utah's sport and Olympic & Paralympic legacy and to help enhance the state's economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Winter Games, The State of Sport has attracted over 1,200 events to Utah. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 501(c)(6) Utah Sports Commission Foundation, governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit UtahSportsCommission.com or follow @stateofsport on social media.