Mardi Gras Grand Nationals will be held January 16-18, 2026 at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Teams attending this event: Fanta, Flawless, Fresh, Fearless and Fierce Five.
It’s Mardi Gras week! We are very excited for a new competition and getting our teams in front of a new panel of judges. Please read and have the following information accessible this weekend. In addition to all the things listed below, we are asking the following of cheerleaders & parents traveling with KC Cheer:
Cheerleaders – We ask that you Perform to the Very Best of your Ability. That you Support all KC Cheer Teams by cheering them on at each performance, and that you conduct yourself in a responsible & respectable manner, be on time & dressed in the correct attire.
Parents – We ask that you help us monitor our athletes throughout the weekend. Please give them support and guidance when they need it. Remember it is notyour job to critic the performance or dive into scores. Let the coaches coach! You be your cheerleaders biggest fan & loudest cheerleader!
Athlete information
All travel is on your own this year to New Orleans. Please be sure to be weather aware and allow plenty of travel time. This includes getting to and from the competition from your hotel on time. Please be sure you allow plenty of time each day for traffic or weather. Remember that you are representing KC Cheer in the hotel, the convention center and at the competition. Please be respectful to others and others property. KC Cheer is only taking 5 teams to this competition. We expect every team member to be at every team performance cheering on our teams (unless they are in the practice room). Our last 2 teams go back to back so it is very important all the other athletes are in the crowd cheering!
Team attire
All cheerleaders should wear the following when not in Competition Uniform during our stay in New Orleans. Do not leave your hotel room in a sports bra and spandex!
Saturday:
Star Sponsor Shirt & black leggings or warm-up pants when not in uniform
Practice Wear: Please pack the gym practice wear for this weekend. Worlds teams RR top and black shorts
Black Hair Bow (White bow for Fearless)
Program Uniform (Purge uniform for Fierce Five)
Sunday:
Warm Up Jacket & warm up pants or black leggings when not in uniform
Practice Wear: Please pack the gym practice wear for this weekend. Worlds teams RR top and black shorts
Red Bow
Program Uniform (2025 uniform for Fierce Five)
Cheerleaders with crop top uniforms must ALWAYS be in sponsor shirt or warm up jacket when walking around the competition. No midriffs may be shown. While teams have “swag” items, this is not the required attire for competition day. Teams are welcome to wear their swag items for team dinner, travel day or at hotel but not at the competition. Cheerleaders MUST be in full Uniform for their AWARDS CEREMONY!!! Cheerleaders will not be allowed on stage if they are not dressed appropriately. NO backpacks/phones or extras at awards.
Athlete Rules and Requirements
Hotel Curfew is 10:30 pm. Lights out in your room no later than 11:00. Parents please help us monitor the athletes so that they are prepared to compete both days. If cheerleaders do not adhere to this rule, their team will have consequences imposed upon them. It is important that we can trust athletes to make responsible decisions on travel weekends without sacrificing the team.
All Cheerleaders should make sure they have their phones with them as Team Parents will be sending a Band messages notifying every one of any last minute instructions (changes to practice times, etc.) Please adhere to the schedule given to the cheerleaders. ALL team members are required to be at ALL KC Cheer performances! We understand that without buses we are taking a risk that people will choose not to come support other teams. We hope our membership understands that this is part of Allstar Cheer! We support each other! Please be present.
NO swimming in the hotel pool for KC Cheer team members during the competition. You are freeto swim on Sunday night after awards if you are staying. Please do not allow your child to travel alone between hotel and competition venue.
Packing list
Competition uniform/shoes/socks
Competition Hair Bows
Competition Make Up
Program Practice wear (Worlds teams - Black RR and Black shorts)
KC Cheer Warm Up Jacket
Black warm up pants or black leggings
KC Cheer Sponsor Tee Shirt
Hair Clips, Hair Spray, Posh
Straightener/Curler
Medication if necessary
Cell phones and chargers
There really is not much need to pack “street clothes” as cheerleaders will be in their uniform, t-shirt, warm up jacket and pants with they are at the convention center.
Saturday Schedule
Please note there are not team rooms at this competition. So please expect to carry everything with you during the competition. Pack your backpack for the day, put your name on everything! It would be in the best interest of everyone to arrive at the competition - mostly all dressed and ready to go. It is REQUIRED that all team members are at every KC Cheer performance unless they are in the practice room with their team or competing.
Coaches will meet their teams outside of Hall J by the WARM -UP area entrance
Athletes are not dismissed from the competition venue until they have completed their team meeting, reviewed the scoresheet, finished any practice the coaches need from them and watched all KC Cheer teams.
Looking at the schedule most teams will not have standings until after our last team performs, so everyone should anticipate team meetings after Fresh with the exception of Flawless who may be able to meet earlier. We will update time/place in the band.
Spectator information
The spectator entrance to the competition venue is located at 400 Calliope St. NOLA
Doors open: 7:00 a.m.
Competition Start Time: 8:00 a.m.