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Wichita to Host NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship for Ninth Consecutive Year in 2028
NAIA extends longstanding partnership with Visit Wichita and Heartland Credit Union Arena
Wichita, Kan. (Nov. 5, 2026) – Wichita’s tradition of hosting national championship wrestling will continue through 2028. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has extended its agreement with Visit Wichita and Heartland Credit Union Arena to host the NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship for an additional year, marking nine consecutive years the Wichita area will welcome the prestigious event.
The extension builds on a successful partnership that began in 2020, when the Wichita area hosted the championship. In 2027, Visit Wichita will host both the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Wrestling National Championships at Heartland Credit Union Arena. The men’s championship will take place March 4-6, followed by the women’s championship March 12-13.
“Visit Wichita has been an outstanding partner in helping us deliver a first-class championship experience for our wrestlers, coaches and fans,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Vice President of Championships. “Their commitment to creating memorable Championship Moments for our student-athletes, combined with the quality of Heartland Credit Union Arena and the support of the local community, makes Wichita an excellent home for this event. We’re excited to continue this partnership through 2028.”
The NAIA Men’s Wrestling National Championship brings together hundreds of collegiate wrestlers from across the country to compete for national titles in 10 weight classes. In addition to showcasing elite collegiate wrestling, the championship brings coaches, families and fans to the Wichita area, supporting local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
“We’re proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the NAIA and welcome the Men’s Wrestling National Championship back to the Wichita area through 2028,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “Having hosted this championship since 2020, we’ve built a strong relationship with the NAIA and demonstrated our ability to deliver an outstanding experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans. This extension reflects the confidence the NAIA has in our community, our facilities and our commitment to hosting championship-caliber sporting events.”
Wichita’s relationship with the NAIA has also expanded to include women’s wrestling. In 2025 and 2026, Visit Wichita and Heartland Credit Union Arena hosted the NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship for the first time.
For more information about sporting events in Wichita or bringing an event to the city, visit VisitWichita.com/Sports.
ABOUT VISIT WICHITA
Visit Wichita markets the greater Wichita area as a premier convention, sports and tourism destination, increasing travel and tourism as a key economic driver for the city, county, region and state. Wichita was named the Best Sports-Event Host City by SportsTravel magazine, a national recognition that highlights the city’s proven success in hosting high-caliber sporting events with world-class venues, seamless operations and strong community support. Visit Wichita is led by President and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2024 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.5 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area. For more information, go to VisitWichita.com.
ABOUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 83,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in scholarships and compete in 29 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA
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