2025-26 USA CURLING FIVE-AND-UNDER NATIONALS: QUALIFIER BONSPIELS ANNOUNCED
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, May 27, 2025] — USA Curling has selected the 23 Five-and-Under Bonspiels (events for curlers over the age of 21 who have been actively participating in the sport for five years or less) that will serve as qualifier events for the 2026 Five-and-Under Nationals.
There were 32 applications received from Five-and-Under bonspiels across the country. The field at the Five-and-Under Nationals, an Open format event, features 24 teams—23 berths will be awarded through the bonspiel qualifiers and the host club also receives an entry.
“The growing popularity of the Five-and-Under Nationals has fueled more demand among bonspiels to be qualifiers,” noted USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “It definitely falls into the category of a good problem to have, but I realize some events and Member Clubs will be disappointed they are not included. We review our selections every year, and work to rotate some new events into the mix each season.”
Factors in the final selection of events include: event size, established history, nationwide geographic distribution of qualifier events. As much as possible, bonspiels on the same dates are also avoided.
In an effort to increase participation among women who are relatively new to curling, two qualifiers that are for women’s teams only were also selected.
Gemmell added, “Long-term, we want to establish a Women’s Five-and-Under National Championship. Before we can do that, we need more Women’s qualifier bonspiels, so we are committed to supporting the ones that applied this year.”
A host site for the 2026 Five-and-Under Nationals will be announced soon. Competitors should also plan to review the 2025-26 Qualifying Procedures document. It is currently being updated and will be available on the website during the first week of June.
“Last season, the qualifier bonspiels had 560 total entries,” Gemmell said. “We are pleased to help grow the 5U bonspiel ecosystem, but also believe there is room for all kinds of these events each year, whether they are qualifiers are not. I also hope that teams aiming for the Five-and-Under Nationals develop their skills for the future by entering bonspiels that are not exclusively for Five-and-Under players—there are so many great competitive events at our Member Clubs.”
In addition to this list, all bonspiels that applied will be considered as Qualifier Bonspiels in the event that any of the selections are not able to complete play or do not receive enough entries.
USA Curling Five-and-Under National Champion—Official Qualifier Bonspiels*
14. Evergreen Five-and-Under
1/23/26-1/25/26
Contact: barbara.feist@evergreencurling.com
15. Raymond Kayser Five-and-Under Mixed
1/29/26-2/1/26
Contact: catjw22@yahoo.com
16. Queen City Five and Under Bonspiel—Cincinnati
1/30/26-2/1/26
Cincinnati Curling Club, West Chester Township, OH
Contact: joeanalytical@gmail.com
17. Elisabeth Childs Challenge
2/5/26-2/8/26
Triangle Curling Club, Durham, NC
Contact: constance.fernholz@gmail.com
18. Heather CC 5 U Bonspiel
2/6/26-2/8/26
Heather Curling Club, Mapleton, MN
Contact: linda.annis61@gmail.com
19. Portage Curling Club Five-and-Under
2/13/26-2/15/26
Portage Curling Club, Portage, WI
Contact: portagecurlingclub@gmail.com
20. Francis W. Dykes Five-and-Under Bonspiel
2/26/26-3/1/26
Ardsley Curling Club and Nutmeg Curling Club
Contact: lbocchiere@yahoo.com
21. Dakota Territory Five-and-Under Bonpsiel
3/6/26-3/8/26
Drayton Curling Club, Drayton, ND
Contact: draytoncurling@gmail.com
22. Denver Curling Club 5 & Under Bonspiel
Denver Curling Club, Golden, CO
3/20/25-3/23/25
Contact: events@denvercurlingclub.com
23. The Space Race
4/4/25-4/6/2
Rocket City Curling Club, Huntsville, AL
Contact: rocketcitycurlingclub@gmail.com
24. Nationals Host Berth
Tahoe Tessie Women’s 5U Bonspiel
9/26/25-9/28/25
Lake Tahoe Epic Curling, Stateline, NV
Contact: katiefeldmom@gmail.com
Coyotes 5U Super Hero Bonspiel
10/24/25-10/26/25
Coyotes Curling Club, Tempe, AZ
Contact: 5andunder@coyotescurling.com
The Cool Duck
11/6/25-11/9/25
Ardsley Curling Club, Ardsley, NY
Contact: coolduckbonspiel@gmail.com
Mad Anthony 5 & Under
11/7/25-11/9/25
Fort Wayne Curling Club, Fort Wayne, IN
Contact: craig@fortwaynecurling.com
Frogtown Five
11/14/24-11/16/24
Frogtown Curling Club, St. Paul, MN
Contact: james.mcmann@gmail.com
Fighting Hornet
12/5/25-12/7/25
Charlotte Curling Association, Charlotte, NC
Contact: julie.dellibovi@charlottecurling.com
2024 Midwest Cup
12/5/25-12/7/25
Kettle Moraine Curling Club, Delafield, WI
Contact: MJR0027@gmail.com
Jingle Rocks 5U
Sentry Curling Center, Plover, WI
12/12/25-12/14/25
Contact: treecurls@gmail.com
Frigid 5U Bonspiel
1/16/26-1/18/26
Appleton Curling Club, Appleton, WI
Contact: kpetersbergh@gmail.com
Furthest North 5U
1/15/25-1/18/25
Fairbanks Curling Club, Fairbanks, AK
Contact: david@curlfairbanks.org
Lakeside Curling 5-and-Under Open Bonspiel
1/16/26-1/18/26
Duluth Curling Club, Duluth, MN
Contact: lakesidecurling@hotmail.com
Frozen Five & Under
1/23/26-1/25/26
Madison Curling Club, McFarland, WI
Contact: frozen_five@madisoncurlingclub.com
13. MOPAC Five-and-Under Bonspiel
1/23/26-1/25/26
Contact: katiefeldmom@gmail.com
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
