General

• Competitors will compete stationary throughout the competition using the running judges format as is standard in most of the Heartland region. Competitors must not watch other competitors' solves while they are actively competing, even if they have already completed that attempt
• Competitors are responsible for being on time to their group. Competitors who are late or miss their group may not be able to compete
• We may announce groups before all competitors are done solving. Extra attempts will not be given for routine group announcements
• Most competitors will be given judging assignments for their events. Competitors are required to complete their assignments - we cannot run the competition without it! Competitors are welcome to judge and help out for groups they are not assigned
• Only competitors who are actively competing, judges, and official competition volunteers are permitted in the competition area
• We will not be replacing no-show competitors for non-final rounds. Competitors who drop out of final rounds at least 1 hour prior to the final will be replaced using Regulation 9p3
• We are not responsible for lost personal items, including cubes. Please take care to be aware of your belongings
• Notice of Filming and Photography: Please note that filming and photography will take place at the event. By entering the event premises, you acknowledge that you have been informed you may be photographed and recorded for media to be used in any format for any purpose worldwide in perpetuity by MCA and their partners and representatives. Further, by your presence, you grant permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish to be photographed, recorded, or appear under these conditions, you should not enter the event premises.

Friday Spectator Restrictions

Friday will hold the “Quiet” events, which require more concentration than typical events. In order to preserve a competitive environment for our competitors, spectator restrictions will be in place on Friday.

• Prior to the start of 6x6 and 7x7, competitors not actively competing must not enter the competition room
• Fewest Moves (9:00-12:30): Many tables will be reserved for Fewest Moves competitors only. Family members of Fewest Moves competitors may remain in the room during this time, but must remain silent and are encouraged to wait outside the room. Competitors not competing in Fewest Moves are not permitted inside the room
• Blindfolded events (1:15-4:05): Access is limited to actively competing competitors. Family members of actively competing competitors may remain inside the competition room, but are strongly encouraged to remain outside. Should they choose to remain inside, they must stay silent and away from the competition area. Spectating these events will not be permitted
• MBLD Scrambling (12:45-1:15): No spectators or competitors permitted

Finals

Our final rounds will crown our Heartland Champions. In order to ensure a great and fair experience for competitors as well as spectators, we will run these rounds with some additional policies.

• Finals judging and helping assignments will be limited to our volunteer team
• Results will be entered semi-live during the round. Competitors are not permitted to view these live results until they have completed their attempts (Regulation 2g3a)
• For all events except 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, and Megaminx, all finalists will have scrambles double checked

Qualification Requirements for 4x4x4 Blindfolded, 5x5x5 Blindfolded, 3x3x3 Multi-Blind

The following events are only accepting the top competitors who are registered, based on the psych sheet.

• 4x4x4 Blindfolded: Top 16 competitors (Sorted by single)
• 5x5x5 Blindfolded: Top 16 competitors (Sorted by single)
• 3x3x3 Multi-Blind: Top 16 competitors (Sorted by single)

Any result used to qualify must be achieved on or before Sunday, July 25th, 2027.

There are NO qualification requirements for any of the other events.

Anyone (even first-time competitors!) can register and compete in these events!

• 3x3x3
• 2x2x2
• 4x4x4
• 5x5x5
• 6x6x6
• 7x7x7
• 3x3x3 Blindfolded
• 3x3x3 Fewest Moves
• 3x3x3 One-Handed
• Megaminx
• Pyraminx
• Skewb
• Square-1
• Face Turning Octahedron

APPLY HERE

We will be recruiting talented volunteers to help make this competition a success! You all will play an integral role in this competition running smoothly and on time. Discord will be used as the primary form of communication prior to and during the competition.

Applications will close on July 9th, 2026 at 11:59 pm CST

Volunteer Requirements:

• We ask that volunteers have attended at least three competitions within the last two years.
• Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age as of July 9, 2027.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to both Saturday and Sunday of the competition (Friday is great but optional), even if they do not make advance rounds.
• Volunteers will have assignments most of the competition when they are not competing. Additionally, volunteers will be expected to reside in a designated volunteer area throughout the competition, to be available to help out when needed.
• Priority will be given to those that have been seen going above expectations helping out at competitions.

Volunteer Benefits

• Free lunch provided on days volunteering
• Registration fee refund after the competition (assuming volunteer requirements and duties are fulfilled)
• Free Volunteer T-shirt

Unoffical Events - Saturday Evening

 7:15 - 8:00     Parent/Child Team Blind
 8:00 - 8:35     Redi Cube
 8:35 - 9:00     Clock

Parent/Child Team Blind

Parents (or guardians) and their children will be competing in a Best of 2 event format. This unofficial event will consist of a competitor and a blindfolded parent/legal guardian. Team BLD is an event in which one person is blindfolded and turning the cube while the other person tells you what moves to do. See this video for a demonstration of how this works. Note the parent does NOT need to know how to solve a cube to participate (although knowing some notation may be helpful).

Requirements to participate:

• A registered competitor
• A parent or legal guardian of the registered comeptitor
• One 3x3 cube
• One Blindfold

Parent/Child Team BLD Format:

• Bo2 (Best of 2)
• Cutoff: None
• Time Limit: 10 minutes cumulative (for both solves)

Competitor Limit:

20 teams of 2

How Parent/Child Team BLD Works:

In this specific event, the parent will be the one blindfolded and turning the puzzle while the competitor instructs the parent what moves to apply to the puzzle. The type of communication is completely up to the team. Similar to a usual WCA event, when our group is called up, both participants will bring their one cube up to the drop off station to be scrambled. Once your team is called up to a station, the parent will sit down and place the blindfold over their eyes. The competitor standing beside the parent will be able to inspect the cube for up to 15 seconds. Once both competitors are ready, the competitor will place the cube on the mat in front of the parent, the parent will place their hands on the timer, and will begin the solve. From this point forward, only the parent may apply moves to the cube. The competitor beside the parent can communicate however they would like to their parent so long as they do not purposefully try and distract competitors at the stations around them (i.e. no screaming or intentionally trying to interfere with other teams' solves - this will result in a DNF). The same penalties are still applied to the final resting state of the puzzle.

Redi Cube

Requirements to participate:

• A registered competitor
• Access to and ability to solve a Redi Cube

Redi Cube Format:

• Format: Ao5
• Time Limit: 1:30

Competitor Limit:

32 Competitors

Clock

Requirements to participate:

• A registered competitor
• Access to and ability to solve a Clock puzzle

Clock Format:

• Format: Ao5
• Time Limit: 1:00

Competitor Limit:

32 Competitors

More information about these unofficial events, including registration details, will be available at a later date.

Information coming soon!

Venue

• Mid-America Center (MAC) — 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs, IA 51501.
• MAC has 2600 parking spots. Parking is FREE!

Location

Council Bluffs and the MAC are set along the Missouri River, just across from downtown Omaha (10 minute drive). Enjoy the energy of nearby Omaha with its dining, nightlife, and cultural attractions, while also experiencing the comfort and convenience of a riverfront resort setting in Council Bluffs!

• Several major interstates run through the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, making it an easy drive from anywhere in the midwest
• Nearest airport (~7 miles): Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA)

Hotels Nearby (Many others in the area)

We have a block of rooms at Hilton Garden Inn Omaha/East Council Bluffs, here are the reservation details:

• Reservation Deadline: July 14, 2027 (rooms are not guaranteed after this date, so please book early)
• Rate: $119/nightly - taxes and fees not included
• Online Booking Link: Midwest Cubing Association Room Block
• You may also call the hotel to book at 712-309-9000 and give them the group code MWCHC7

There are also several other hotels within a 5-10 minute walk of the MAC:

• Courtyard by Marriott Omaha East
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott Omaha East/Council Bluffs
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Council Bluffs

Things to Do Nearby

• Harrah's Casino (Council Bluffs)
• Union Pacific Railroad Museum (Council Bluffs)
• Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (Omaha)
• Lauritzen Gardens Omaha's Botanical Center (Omaha)
• Luminarium Museum (Kid-Friendly Science Museum in Omaha)
• Durham Museum (Vintage Train Station converted into Museum of Omaha)
• Omaha Children's Museum

This is the ninth annual Heartland Championship, part of a series of regional championships recognized by CubingUSA. The goal of these competitions is to allow competitors from all over the country to compete for regional titles. The Heartland region is comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

While only residents of the Heartland states are eligible to win the title of Heartland Champion, residents of any state or country are welcome to compete.

Find out more about CubingUSA and Regional Championships

We ask that competitors expecting to have a chance at a Heartland Champion title bring proof of residence (current driver's license or school ID, etc.)

More information regarding eligibility can be found here.

Multiple sponsors are helping to make the MCA Heartland Championship 2027 happen. We would like to thank all of them for helping to support the cubing community in the Heartland Region!

Corporate Sponsors

• HDR Inc. provided financial support to help cover the costs of the competition.

Puzzle Retailer

TheCubicle! will be providing prizes to our podium finishers and regional champions.

Prizes (gift cards) for this competition are as follows:

Main Event (3x3)

• Heartland Champion: $70
• First Place: $50
• Second Place: $35
• Third Place: $20

All Other Events:

• Heartland Champion: $20
• First Place: $20
• Second Place: $15
• Third Place: $10

Want to stay connected with the Midwest Cubing community? Join the Midwest Cubing Community Discord Server! Speak with other competitors from around the midwest, keep in touch with fellow competitors, and meet new ones! Find out about competition discussion as it happens in real time, and even announcements for competitions before registration opens!

Click here to be taken directly to the Discord Server!