Stay up to date with the most recent competition news.
Here is a quick preview of deadlines and the competition schedule
Event Deadlines
- Pro Invites Sent - Febuary 26, 2027
- Pro Registration Opens - March 1, 2027 @ 5 PM EST
- Regular Registration Opens - March 3, 2027 @ 5 PM EST
- Registration Closes - May 24th @ 11:59 PM EST
- Or when a specific cap is reached
- Regular Opens - March 3, 2027 @ 5 PM EST
- Registration Closes - May 24th @ 11:59 PM EST
- Athlete Weight Class Change Deadline - June 7th @ 11:59 PM EST
- Athlete Withdrawal Deadline: Anytime up to the start of the competition
- Hotel Booking Deadline - TBD
Meet Schedule
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Early Equipment Check
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Early Equipment Check
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Early Equipment Check
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2 (All Youth & Youth Bench)
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Early Equipment Check
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Early Equipment Check
- Session 1
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
- Session 2 (All Bench Minus Youth)
- Equipment Check
- Weigh Ins
- Lifting Starts at
Division Information
Youth lifters are to be between the ages of 8 & 13. Youth and youth bench will take place on day 4 (June 25th), session 2. All youth lifters will compete during that session, and no other age divisions will compete.
Youth lifters need a qualifying total in a USA Powerlifting event from January 1, 2026, to May 24, 2027.
Note: All youth lifters will compete raw. The 14-day deadline to change weight classes does not apply to Youth lifters. In other words, Youth lifters are allowed to change weight classes up until the day of the event.
Have questions? Ask the Youth Committee
For 2027, Masters will be competing on Tuesday & Wednesday. Masters lifters will be allowed to compete in the Open division as long as they meet the Open criteria: they must have an existing Open total in the event types listed below.
Qualifying events:
- State Championships
- Regional Championships
- National Championships
- World Championships
- Arnold Sports Festival
Note: Any Masters lifter also competing in the Open will need to wait until the Open division competes to collect their medals.
Have questions? Ask the Masters Committee
Raw Open, Junior & Teen lifters will be competing over the course of days 3-6. They will also be sharing the sessions with equipped lifters.
Qualifying events:
- State Championships
- Regional Championships
- National Championships
- World Championships
- Arnold Sports Festival
In order to register for the Raw Open, Junior, or Teen divisions, you will need to have an established total already set.
Please also note that if you wish to go down in weight class, you will need to RE-QUALIFY in your new weight class by the entry deadline.
National Qualifying Totals
Note: All qualifying totals are listed in kilograms (KGs)
Equipped lifters will be competing on days 3-5 in a specific session and on a specific platform.
Please also note that if you wish to go down in weight class, you will need to RE-QUALIFY in your new weight class by the entry deadline.
National Qualifying Totals
Note: All qualifying totals are listed in kilograms (KGs)
Have questions? Ask the Equipped Committee
All bench lifters, except Youth, will be competing on day 6 in session 2.
Bench lifters just need a qualifying total in a USA Powerlifting event from January 1, 2026, to May 24, 2027.
FAQ
- WHO GETS IN EARLY
- Pros will get early invites for Raw Nationals
- They get 48 hours to register, then it opens to the public
- LIFTER CAPS
- Raw Masters
- 540
- Raw Open Junior & Teen
- 960
- Youth & Youth Bench
- 120
- Equipped (All divisions)
- 120
- Bench (All divisions minus Youth)
- 180
- Raw Masters
All Coaches must:
1) Be a current USA Powerlifting Member (Read More Here)
2) Purchase a coach's session pass for the sessions you will be coaching.
USA Powerlifting approved equipment will be used on the platform and the warm-up area. There will be racks in the gear check room for you to obtain your squat and bench rack heights.
If you enter this event, you may be selected to be drug tested. Lifters are notified by the Drug Testing Officer (DCO) at the completion of the lifting session. If you have completed all your attempts and want to leave prior to the awards ceremony, you must check in with the DCO to make sure you have not been selected for drug testing. This includes if you have weighed in and decided not to lift, injured yourself during the competition, and withdraw or bomb, you are still in the drug testing pool.
Failure to be available when called for drug testing will be considered a doping failure.
Medications prescribed by your doctor may be considered a prohibited substance. You must check all your medications. If the medication is prohibited, it may be allowed by receiving a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
- Check your medications here: GlobalDRO
- TUE Application
- Anti-Doping Information
Please review the USA Powerlifting Rulebook to be informed.
Only USA Powerlifting approved equipment is allowed at National events. Please review the USA Powerlifting Rulebook to make sure your equipment (singlets, belt, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, etc) can be worn before gear check.
Need some new equipment? Don't worry, vendors will be there!
All weight-class changes must be declared using the Registration Portal. Inside your profile, you can change your weight class.
If you are moving up a weight class, your qualifying total in the lower class must be equal to or greater than the qualifying total of the higher weight class.
If you wish to go down in weight class, you will need to RE-QUALIFY in your new weight class by the 14-day weight-class change deadline published on this site.
Unlike many local-level meets, weigh-ins are conducted by 'Lot Numbers.' A lot number is a randomly assigned number to each athlete, within each session.
When it is time for your weigh-ins, be there when it starts. The Referee will call you in order of your assigned Lot Number, NOT by when you show up. If you are not present when you are called, you will go to the back of the weigh-in order.
For more information, please refer to the Rulebook.
No. World Records can only be set at IDFPA competitions.
YES! National records can be set at any National Championships.
YES! Any State record you break will automatically be credited once the results are uploaded into the results database.
Guest lifters are only allowed under the following conditions:
- If you did not make weight, you will be allowed to compete as a Guest in the weight class you were registered in.
Guest lifting is not permitted for anyone who has not met the qualifying totals or who cannot meet the criteria of our membership.
Media
Our media team has yet to be decided. When it is, we will have information about them and a link to purchase your media package.
Sponsorship & Vendor Info
Interested in sponsoring the USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals? Some options available (Limited opportunities, first-come, first-served)
- Presenting Sponsor for the entire event
- Title Sponsor for the day
- Event Sponsor – entire event
- Platform Sponsor (Session or Day)
- Room Card Key Sponsor
- Athlete/Officials Badge Sponsor
- Athlete/Officials Lanyard Sponsor
- Awards Sponsor
- Live Broadcast Sponsor
- Apparel Sponsor
- Athlete/Official Jacket Sponsor
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Vendor Booth space is available for your company for the entire event!
Contact [email protected] to arrange for your company's booth!
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Venue
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Airport Information
Airlines that have flights into ALB. United, JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines
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Hotel Information
USA Powerlifting uses a service that puts together blocks of rooms at surrounding hotels close to the venue at a fixed rate. Not all the hotels have the same rate, but they are locked in for that rate in the given date range.