The road to NCAA glory reaches its penultimate peak this spring as the top programs in the country descend upon North Texas. If you're a fan of gravity-defying vaults, precision on the beam, and high-energy floor routines, mark your calendars for Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Fort Worth has become the unofficial home of collegiate gymnastics, and for good reason. The atmosphere at Dickies Arena is electric, the competition is fierce, and the stakes couldn't be higher: two sessions, eight teams, and only four spots in the National Championship final.

Event Overview: The Semifinals

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Semifinals serve as the gateway to the "Four on the Floor." Held over two sessions on Thursday, the event features the eight teams that survived the grueling Regional rounds.

• Location: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX

• Host Institution: Texas Woman’s University

• Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026

• Broadcast: ESPN2

Schedule & Session Details

The competition is split into two sessions. The top two teams from each session will punch their tickets to the National Championship on Saturday, April 18.

What to Watch For

1. The Powerhouse Programs

Expect to see the usual suspects battling for the crown. The Oklahoma Sooners, who took home the title last year, will likely be the ones to beat. However, with the rise of programs like Missouri and the consistent excellence of UCLA and Utah, no spot in the finals is guaranteed.

2. Individual Brilliance

While the team competition takes center stage, the Semifinals also crown Individual National Champions. This means every vault, bar routine, and beam set matters for individual glory, even if a gymnast's team doesn't advance to Saturday.

3. The "Fort Worth" Advantage

This marks the eighth year the championships have been held in Fort Worth and the sixth at Dickies Arena. The venue is world-class, offering 360-degree views and an intimate setting that puts fans right on top of the action.

Tickets and Official Info

If you're planning to attend in person, act fast. Last year’s finals were a sell-out, and the semifinals are trending in the same direction.

• Official Tickets: Ticketmaster

• NCAA Championship Site: NCAA.com/WomensGymnastics

• Venue Information: Dickies Arena Event Page

Pro Tip: If you can’t make it to Fort Worth, ESPN2 provides comprehensive coverage. For the ultimate experience, fans often use the "multiview" feature on the ESPN app to watch all four events (Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor) simultaneously.

Why This Year is Different

Women’s sports are seeing a massive surge in popularity, and gymnastics is at the heart of it. With "NIL" (Name, Image, and Likeness) allowing Olympic-level stars to stay in the college game longer, the level of difficulty and execution in 2026 is expected to be the highest in NCAA history.

Whether you’re a die-hard "gym-nerd" or a casual sports fan, the intensity of a win-or-go-home semifinal is unmatched. We’ll see you in Fort Worth!

Where to Stay: Top Hotel Recommendations