PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 17, 2026) — The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), in partnership with Grand Canyon University (GCU) and PlayVS, today announced the AIA Esports State Championship 2026, set to take place May 1-2, 2026, at the GCU Esports Arena.

The two-day championship event will showcase the top four high school teams in Arizona for each game title, competing in semifinal and final matches across multiple esports titles. Doors will open daily at 8:00 AM MST, with competition beginning at 9:00 AM MST.

Friday’s competition will feature League of Legends and Rocket League, while Saturday will highlight Marvel Rivals and Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate. All matches will be streamed live on YouTube & Twitch, giving fans, families, and schools the opportunity to follow the action from anywhere.

Event Details 
What: AIA Esports State Championship 2026 When: Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2 | 9 AM MST Where: GCU Esports Arena at Grand Canyon University
Games: League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate, Marvel Rivals
Where to Watch: 

● AZPreps365 YouTube 

● GCU Esports YouTube 

● PlayVS Twitch 

Competition Schedule 
Friday, May 1 

● 8:00 AM – Doors & Check-In 

● 9:00 AM – League of Legends Semifinals #1 

● 11:30 AM – League of Legends Semifinals #2 

● 2:00 PM – Rocket League Semifinal #1 

● 3:00 PM – Rocket League Semifinal #2 

● 4:00 PM – League of Legends Finals 

● 6:30 PM – Rocket League Finals 

Saturday, May 2 

● 8:00 AM – Doors & Check-In 

● 9:00 AM – Marvel Rivals Semifinal #1 

● 11:00 AM – Marvel Rivals Semifinal #2 

● 1:00 PM – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Semifinal #1 

● 2:30 PM – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Semifinal #2 

● 4:00 PM – Marvel Rivals Finals 

● 6:00 PM – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Finals 

“The AIA is excited to partner with GCU to host the esports state championships,” said Brian Bolitho, Chief Business Development Officer for the AIA. “This will be the second of two state championships hosted at GCU this year, with softball being the other, and GCU's esports facility is one that the coaches and students will absolutely enjoy competing in.” 

GCU Esports provides a premier venue for tournaments, combining a state-of-the-art arena, professional broadcast infrastructure and experienced staff to deliver a high-quality competitive experience. GCU Esports offers varsity, club and recreational teams across a range of titles, providing student-athletes with a structured competitive environment and professional broadcast infrastructure.

"Arizona's scholastic esports scene has grown faster than most people realize, and this championship is proof of that,” said Jay DeShong, Director of Esports Operations at GCU. “Bringing 150-plus competitors to the GCU Esports Arena to compete for a state title isn't just a great event — it's a signal to every student, parent, and school in this state that esports is a legitimate pathway worth investing in."

“We’re excited to see the top teams in Arizona come together to compete for a state title,” said Olivia Zehner, Director of Partnerships at PlayVS. “This championship represents the passion, commitment, and growth of esports at the high school level.” 

This event represents the continued growth of scholastic esports in Arizona, celebrating the students, schools, and communities driving competition forward across the state. 

About Arizona Interscholastic Association
The AIA is a voluntary association of public and private Arizona high schools. Since 1913, the organization has created and sustained interscholastic activities that encourage maximum student participation by providing AIA member schools with an even playing field to ensure fair and equitable competition. The AIA believes that providing interscholastic activities for Arizona high school students creates personal development opportunities with a balanced focus on academics and extracurricular activities. Through its Arizona member schools, the AIA reaches more than 125,000 participants in high school activity programs. The organization hosts 1,400 postseason contests, officiates more than 45,000 regular season events, and handles 110,000 officials' assignments annually. For more information, visit www.aiaonline.org and www.azpreps365.com. 

About Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona’s premier private Christian university. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 370 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University’s curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.

About GCU Esports
GCU Esports is the competitive gaming program of Grand Canyon University, operating one of the premier collegiate esports facilities in the Southwest — the GCU Esports Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The program fields varsity, club, and recreational teams across a range of titles, providing student-athletes with a structured competitive environment and professional broadcast infrastructure. Beyond competition, GCU Esports offers hands-on career development across broadcast production, tournament operations, marketing, graphic design, facility management, and more — giving students real-world experience in the roles that power the esports industry. GCU Esports is committed to growing the esports ecosystem at the collegiate and scholastic level through competition, community programming, and strategic partnerships. For more information, visit gcuesports.com. 

About PlayVS
PlayVS is North America’s leading scholastic and collegiate gaming platform, helping students unlock the educational, social, and personal benefits of competitive gaming. Gaming Concepts’ award-winning gaming curriculum is dedicated to building structured, community-driven pathways into competitive gaming and digital careers. Through its innovative curriculum and immersive programming, Gaming Concepts empowers students with the skills, teamwork, leadership, and strategic thinking required to succeed both in and outside the classroom. PlayVS is the official esports partner of the NFHS Network, the Special Olympics, and more than 40 state and regional organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at playvs.com.