Nominations are closed and the official finalists have been announced.
Hosted by MotUS · Nashville 2026
A live, end-of-season awards experience honoring the people, programs, innovations, and achievements moving cheer and dance forward.
Awards Night
September 28, 2026
Aura Events Center · Nashville, Tennessee
Official Livestream · Free Access
Watch the NOVAS Awards FREE
Celebrate the people, teams and ideas moving cheer and dance forward.
Monday, September 28, 2026 · 6:00 PM CDT
Live from Nashville, Tennessee · Return here by 5:55 PM CDT.
Free with the MotUS Bundle.
No payment or paid subscription required.
- Claim your free access and create an account or sign in.
- Return to this page while signed in. Tap “I’ll be there” if it appears to preregister. Already see “We look forward to seeing you”? You’re registered.
- Come back here Monday by 5:55 PM CDT. The broadcast starts at 6:00 PM CDT.
Already have the MotUS Bundle? Sign in with the account you used to claim it.
Vote & comment in the Novas Fan Polls → Fan polls are separate from the official awards. Opens in a new tab so you can keep this player open.
THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS
Open the official CheerLive stream
Public voting is complete. The votes are in and the spotlight now moves to awards night.
Join the cheer and dance community for a live celebration in Nashville.
Awards Night · Nashville
The countdown begins.
Monday, September 28, 2026 · Aura Events Center
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The Awards-Night Experience
What Are The NOVAS?
THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS is an awards-night experience created to recognize excellence, influence, innovation, leadership, and impact across the cheer and dance industry.
Inspired by the prestige and excitement of the world’s most iconic awards shows, THE NOVAS will feature an elevated atmosphere filled with red carpet moments, entertainment, meaningful recognition, and opportunities for the industry to connect.
This is more than an awards ceremony. It is a celebration of movement with purpose.
Media Partner · Live Recognition at THE NOVAS
CheerTheory’s 2026 Globey Awards
CheerTheory’s 2026 Globey Awards winners will be recognized live at THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS. The Globey Awards celebrate the best of the all-star cheerleading season, recognizing outstanding teams, athletes, routines, coaches, companies, and industry leaders who have helped shape the sport.
Primo Ticketing
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor · Official Ticketing Partner
Primo Ticketing
Primo Ticketing is a Gold Sponsor of THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS and served as the official ticketing partner for the 2026 live awards-night experience in Nashville.
What THE NOVAS Represents
Four Ideas at the Heart of the Celebration.
A Symbol of Recognition
Honoring the people, programs, and achievements whose impact deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Built on Motion
Celebrating an industry defined by energy, progress, performance, and movement with purpose.
Driven by Innovation
Recognizing the ideas, events, products, and creative work that continue to move cheer and dance forward.
Inspiring the Future
Spotlighting leaders and visionaries whose work creates new possibilities for the next generation.
The Road to the NOVAS
Every Moment Builds Toward the Spotlight.
From the first nomination to the final vote, the community helps celebrate who deserves recognition on awards night.
Open the Spotlight
Submit the people, gyms, organizations, and innovators whose work deserves recognition.
July 20–27, 2026MotUS Reviews
MotUS carefully reviews the nominations and selects seven finalists for each category.
Finalists Selected by MotUSMake Your Voice Count
Public voting ran August 17–24, 2026, giving the community the opportunity to support the finalists moving the industry forward.
August 17–24, 2026Awards Night
The industry comes together in Nashville for a live celebration unlike any other.
September 28, 2026Awards Night · Nashville
Join Us in Nashville.
THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS awards show will take place on September 28, 2026, at Aura Events Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ticket sales are now closed. If you already have a ticket, we’ll see you in Nashville. MotUS members whose membership includes event attendance can use the member registration option.
Date
September 28, 2026
Venue
Aura Events Center
Location
Nashville, Tennessee
2
attendees included with MotUS membership
MotUS members can register two attendees at no additional cost.
Voting Complete · Awards Night September 28, 2026
The Votes Are In.
Public voting has closed. Meet the 2026 finalists and join us in Nashville as THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS celebrates the people, programs, creativity, leadership, and achievements moving cheer and dance forward.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Partner With THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS.
MotUS and THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS are seeking additional sponsors for the 2026 in-person awards ceremony. Sponsor visibility may include campaign branding, red carpet exposure, website placement, email inclusion, social media mentions, and post-event content.
THE 2026 AWARDS
Award Categories
Explore the honors celebrating excellence, influence, innovation, leadership, and impact across the cheer and dance industry.
01 Media + Social 3 Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Social Media Presence — Gym, Studio, or Team
Recognizes a gym or team whose creative, consistent content builds community and represents cheer or dance with impact.
Outstanding Achievement in Social Media Presence — Industry Professional
Honors an individual using social media to educate, inspire, connect, and move the industry forward.
Outstanding Achievement in Cheer or Dance Podcasting
Celebrates a podcast delivering meaningful conversation, valuable insight, and connection across the cheer community.
02 Events + Innovation 3 Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Awards Ceremony Production
Honors an awards experience that makes recognition feel memorable, thoughtful, and worthy of the moment.
Innovative Cheer Event of the Year
Recognizes a cheer event advancing the athlete and spectator experience through fresh ideas, production, or format.
Innovative Dance Event of the Year
Recognizes a dance event raising the standard through creativity, thoughtful execution, and an exceptional experience.
03 Vendors + Creators 6 Awards
Vendor / Supplier of the Year or Outstanding Product of the Year
Celebrates a business or product providing outstanding value, service, quality, and innovation to the industry.
The Quiet Achiever Award
Honors a behind-the-scenes contributor whose consistent work, service, and impact make a meaningful difference without seeking the spotlight.
Choreographer of the Year — Cheer
Recognizes exceptional artistry, originality, storytelling, and athlete-centered choreography created specifically for cheer.
Choreographer of the Year — Dance
Recognizes exceptional artistry, originality, storytelling, and performer-centered choreography created specifically for dance.
Music Producer of the Year — Cheer
Honors a producer whose music elevates cheer performance through originality, quality, and a strong understanding of the sport.
Music Producer of the Year — Dance
Honors a producer whose music elevates dance performance through originality, quality, and a strong understanding of the art form.
04 Athletes + Gyms 6 Awards
Amateur Athlete of the Year
Recognizes an athlete demonstrating exceptional performance, growth, character, commitment, and sportsmanship.
Professional Athlete of the Year
Honors an athlete demonstrating excellence, influence, and outstanding achievement at the professional level.
Small Gym of the Year
Celebrates a small gym demonstrating exceptional culture, leadership, athlete experience, and community impact.
Medium Gym of the Year
Celebrates a medium-sized gym leading with excellence in culture, development, operations, and athlete experience.
Large Gym of the Year
Celebrates a large gym setting a high standard for leadership, culture, innovation, and sustainable program excellence.
Dance Studio of the Year
Recognizes a dance studio demonstrating excellence in instruction, culture, artist development, leadership, and community impact.
05 Leadership + Legacy 7 Awards
Judge of the Year — Cheer
Honors a cheer judge known for fairness, expertise, consistency, professionalism, and commitment to athletes and programs.
Judge of the Year — Dance
Honors a dance judge known for fairness, expertise, consistency, professionalism, and commitment to performers and studios.
Game Changer Award
Recognizes a person or organization whose bold leadership, innovation, or action significantly advanced cheer and dance.
Man of the Year
Recognizes a man whose leadership, service, integrity, and influence have made a meaningful industry impact.
Woman of the Year
Recognizes a woman whose leadership, service, integrity, and influence have made a meaningful industry impact.
Inductees Into The Pioneers of All Star
Honors individuals whose lasting contributions, leadership, innovation, and service have helped shape the history, growth, and future of the All Star industry.
Jeff Webb Cornerstone Award
A special honor recognizing an individual whose vision, leadership, influence, and lasting contributions have helped build and shape the foundation of the All Star industry.
THE 2026 FINALISTS
Meet the 2026 Finalists
Meet the people, programs, creators, events, and organizations being recognized at THE CHEER & DANCE NOVAS.
Man of the Year 5 Finalists
JC
Justin Carrrier
VR
Victor Rosario
AD
Andrew Dean
MD
Mike DeVos
BV
Brad Vaugh
Woman of the Year 5 Finalists
AL
Ann Lehrmann
AG
Amy Goldberg
TK
Tannaz Kirichkow
AC
Alex Csiernik
HW
