Everything to know about the DII festival

One of the most unique experiences in college athletics is held annually through the DII festival. 

This Olympic-style event brings together multiple championships across a variety of sports, held over several days at a single host city. Teams meet for a one-of-a-kind experience featuring opening and closing ceremonies, community engagement and of course, competition.

After 22 years, the last-ever DII festival will be held in Kansas City, Mo. this December for fall sports.

But before that happens, here’s everything you need to know about the historic festival. 

What is the DII festival

Since its inception in 2004, the annual DII festival has become a defining tradition, bringing together more than 900 student-athletes to compete for national championships in their respective sports. 

The festivals are held on a rotating basis, alternating events for the fall, winter and spring championships each year. 

Though the festival alone is unique, the athlete experience is what makes the event stand out:

• Opening and closing ceremonies: Ceremonies are held at distinctive locations in the host city including Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky to the Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla.
• Olympic model: The athletes are housed in one to three hotels in nearby proximity to create an Olympic Village environment.
• Community engagement: Members from nearly all the participating teams volunteer to give back to the host city community during the week, interacting with youth groups, veterans and military groups, retirement communities and more. 

When is the 2026 DII festival

The 2026 DII festival is set for Thursday, Dec. 3 – Saturday, Dec. 5 in Kansas City, MO as men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball will vie for their respective national titles. 

This marks Kansas City’s first time hosting the event where teams from the six sports will compete across a variety of different venues around the city and neighboring towns. Check out where each of the sports will vie for the crown below.

• Men’s and women’s cross country
  • Rick Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan.
• Field hockey
  • Pembroke High School in Kansas City, MO
• Men’s and women’s soccer
  • CPKC stadium in Kansas City, MO
• Women’s volleyball
  • Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, MO

History 

The 2026 DII Festival in Kansas City will mark the event’s 15th year after its installment in 2004 and this year will be its last. 

In the early 2000s, the then-NCAA president Cedric W. Dempsey challenged all three divisions to elevate excitement and overall experience at their championships – specifically focusing on the often overlooked sports. 

The Division II membership responded by creating the DII festival, as spring sports were crowned at the inaugural event in Orlando, Fla. To this day, no other NCAA division conducts more than two championships at one site while the festival features five for winter and six for both spring and fall. 

Since its inception, the DII festival has served as a unique identifier for the DII brand. 

Check out the full history below of host sites.