2026 Event Dates & Deadlines - Special Olympics of Illinois

Winter Games

State Winter Games (Alpine & Snowshoe)

Entries Due: January 14, 2026
Event Date: February 10 - 12 2026
Location: Galena, IL (Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3)

Swimming

Regional Qualifier Swimming Meet (Edwardsville)

Entries Due: February 25, 2026
Event Date: March 28th - Saturday
Location: Edwardsville, Illinois @ Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center

Basketball

Basketball (Team & Skill Competition) - Region J Shoot Out (CANCELED)

Entries Due: December 4, 2024
Event Date: January 25, 2026 @ 8:00AM
Event Location: Trenton, IL

2026 State Basketball Tournament (Basketball Team Game Play & Individual Skills)

Entries Due: February 11, 2026
Event Date: March 13-15, 2026
Event Location: Bloomington / Normal, IL @ Horton Fieldhouse (Illinois State University) & Shirk Center (Illinois Wesleyan University) -- Skills @ Normal Community High School

Spring Games - Athletics

Athletics (Track & Field) (Competition Information)

Entries Due: March 19, 2026
Event Date: April 19, 2026 @ 8AM to2PM
Location: Triad High School (Troy, IL)

Special Smiles - Spring Games

Free Dental / Oral Health Care & Screening
Thank you SUIE - Dental for hosting

Gymnastics Competition

Artistic & Rhythmic Gymnastics

Event Date: May 2, 2026 (Saturday) @ 8:30AM to 2:30PM
Location: Greenville University

Summer Games

STATE SUMMER GAMES 2026 (Athletics / Bocce / Gymnastics / Powerlifting / Soccer / Swimming)

Details: Coming Soon...
Entries Due: May 21, 2026
Event Date: June 12-14, 2026
Location: Bloomington / Normal, IL @ Horton Fieldhouse (Illinois State University)

State Golf

Golf (Region J Golf (Unified & TRAD) - Competition Rules

Entries Due: June 24, 2026
Event Date: July 31, 2026
Registration & Opening Ceremonies Time: 8:15 AM / 8:45 AM
Location: Edwardsville, IL

Golf (Individual Skills) - Region J Golf Individual Skills - Competition Rules

Entries Due: June 24, 2026
Event Date: July 31, 2026
Registration & Opening Ceremonies Time: 9 AM / 9:45 AM
Location: Edwardsville, IL

2026 STATE STATE GOLF Tournament

Entries Due: August 12, 2026
Event Date: September 12-13, 2026
Location: Decatur / Forsyth, IL

Softball

Softball (Team) - Region H Softball Tournament

Event Date: TBD
Location: TBD

Softball (Individual Skills) - Region H Softball Individual Skills

Event Date: TBD
Location: TBD

2026 STATE SOFTBALL Tournament

Event Date: September 12-13, 2026
Location: Springfield, IL

Tennis

Tennis (Traditional & Unified) - Region G Tennis (Region J attends)

Entries Due: May 23, 2025
Event Date: June 29, 2026
Location: Bloomington / Normal, IL

Tennis (Skills)

Entries Due: TBD
Event Date: TBD
Location: Bloomington / Normal, IL

2026 STATE TENNIS Tournament

Entries Due: July 15, 2026
Event Date: August 15 & 16, 2026
Location: Bloomington / Normal, IL

Special Olympics FAMILY FESTIVAL

Special Olympics Family Festival will be held on Saturday, September 16 to 19th in Mattoon, Illinois
This a non-competition event for Special Olympics athletes to engage in:

sport-like activities & games
Rides & Interactive experiences
Provided entertainment and lunch

Bocce

Bocce Qualifier (Regionals) for Traditional (single/doubles/team) & Unified (doubles/team) & Young Athletes

Event Date: September 19, 2026
Registration & Opening Ceremony @ 9:00AM
Athletes & United Partners who receive gold will qualify to advance to State Competition
Location: Highland, IL Glik Park

2026 STATE BOCCE Tournament

Entries Due: October 7, 2026
Event Date: November 7 & 8 2026
Location: Springfield, IL

Fall Games

2026 STATE FALL GAMES (Details to come...)

Event Date: October 17 & 18, 2026
Location: Rockford / Poplar Grove, IL

Bowling

Bowling Regional Competition
Traditional / Singles / Doubles / Team / Unified Doubles / Unified Teams / Player Development Model (PDM) / Ramp Singles

Event Date: October 25, 2026
Registration & Opening Ceremonies Time: 8:30 AM / 9:30 AM
Location: Fairview Heights, IL @ St. Clair Bowl

STATE BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Event Date: December 6, 2026
Location: Fairview Heights, IL @ St. Clair Bowl

Volleyball

Volleyball (Teams - Unified / Traditional)

Intent to Play Due: July 10, 2026
Entries Due: August 26, 2026
Event Date: September 20th or 27th @ 9AM
Location: Decatur, IL

Volleyball (Individual Skills)

Intent to Play Due: TBD
Entries Due: August 26, 2026
Event Date: September 20th or 27th @ 9AM
Location: Chatham, IL

STATE VOLLYBALL (Team / Skills)

Intent to Play Due: July 10, 2026
Entries Due: September 16, 2026
Event Date: October 17-18. 2026
Location: Rockford, IL

Flag Football

Flag Football Regional Competition

Entries Due: August 26, 2026
Event Date: September 27, 2026 @ 8:30AM to 2PM
Registration & Opening Ceremonies Time: 8:30 AM / 9:30 AM
Location: Mascoutah, IL

STATE FLAG FOOTBALL (Flag Football)

Intent to Play Due: July 17, 2026
Entries Due: October 7, 2026
Event Date: November 7 & 8, 2026
Registration & Opening Ceremonies Time: 8:30 AM / 10:45 AM
Location: Peoria, IL

Floor Hockey

Floor Hockey Regionals

Intent to Play Due: TBD
Entries Due: TBD
Event Date: TBD
Location: TBD

STATE FLOOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Entries Due: October 14, 2026
Event Date: November 14 or 21, 2026
Location: Bedford Park, IL

Unified Soccer

Unified Soccer

Entries Due: TBD
Event Date: TBD
Location: TBD

Fundraiser

Collinsville Dumpster Polar Plunge (Collinsville VFW)

Event Date: February 20, 2026
Event Time: 3 PM to 6 PM
Location: Collinsville, IL (Collinsville VFW)

Carlyle Lake Polar Plunge (Carlyle Lake Main Beach)

Entries Date: February 28, 2026
Event Time: 8 AM / 12 PM
Location: Carlyle, IL (Carlyle Lake Main Beach)

Jersey Mike's Day of Giving Fundraiser

Event Date: March 25, 2026 @ 8AM to 9PM
Location: Throughout Illinois

Foz Ryan Golf Classic

Entries Due: May 22, 2026
Event Date: TBD
Location: Edwardsville, IL