Sold-out WIAA state wrestling championships begin at Kohl Center

Wisconsin’s premier high school wrestling showcase returns to Madison Thursday as the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association state individual wrestling championships begin Feb. 26-28 at the Kohl Center on the UW-Madison campus. 

Girls and boys wrestling will share the spotlight this weekend as the WIAA state individual tournament returns to the Kohl Center, with the girls championship in its fifth year and the boys competition continuing a long-standing state tradition across three divisions. The 2026 tournament will also recognize a girls team champion for the second year based on individual results.

Due to overwhelming fan support and demand, in-person ticket sales for the tournament are sold out for all sessions. The WIAA expects that no additional tickets will be available for sale at the Kohl Center ticket office and fans hoping to watch should make alternative plans to watch broadcasts online.

The Kohl Center is one of Wisconsin’s largest indoor sports venues, seating 16,838 for basketball and 15,511 for hockey, creating a championship atmosphere worthy of the moment. 

“This weekend is about the student-athletes — their discipline, their resilience and the work it takes to reach the state tournament,” said WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser. “A sold-out Kohl Center is a powerful sign of how much Wisconsin values wrestling and the opportunities high school sports create.”

We’re proud the state wrestling tournament sold out, and we also understand the frustration from fans who were unable to get tickets. We will continue improving our communication and processes so family access is clear and seamless, while keeping the focus where it belongs: celebrating Wisconsin’s student-athletes on the state’s biggest stage.

Fans across the state can follow the action throughout the weekend. Championship finals across all divisions will air live on the WIAA State Television Network, with live coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday. Pre-finals matches will be streamed on WIAA.tv via the NFHS Network. 

You can stream via this link: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/wiaa-wi/wrestling/video/playoffs