We are very excited to be partnering with Pour Bros. Craft Taproom as the host venue for our Illinois Steinholding State Championship Finals and our sponsors at Sportverein Peoria! The best Steinholders from across the state will come together Pour Bros. Craft Taproom in Peoria Heights, IL on Saturday October 3rd, 2026 at 3:00pm (women's division start time) and 4:30pm (men's division start time) where the winners will make Illinois sporting history when they are crowned this year's Illinois State Steinholding Champions!
The State Champs will receive a fresh new pair of lederhosen or a dirndl from our sponsor partners at BavariaTrachten.com where you can use our extremely creative discount code STEINHOLDING to get an extra 10% off any purchase of lederhosen, dirndls, and other great festival apparel all season long! More importantly, the winners at States will be invited to the USSA National Steinholding Championship to compete for the $4,000 cash prize! They'll receive up to $500 personal travel reimbursement and two nights hotel stay in Cincinnati if they represent Illinois at Nationals! But let's not get ahead of ourselves- they need to qualify for States first!
There are a limited number of spots available for the State Finals and you'll need to compete at one of our Qualifying Venue partner locations (listed below) to qualify for the finals and get your shot at the Steinholding glory.
1. Festivals, breweries, and bars across Illinois are hosting preliminary qualifying rounds! The winners from the men's competition and women's competition at each location will be invited to represent their qualifying location at the Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Championship Match. The different venues are listed below along with the dates and times for each competition. If your favorite venue isn't hosting a competition, tell them to get registered so you can join the fun!
OR
2. You can compete at German American Central Society of Peoria during their Qualifying Round Competitions during their Sommerfest event on June 6th, 2026, their Volkfest event on July 5th, 2026 and their Oktoberfest event on September 18th and 19th, 2026! The winners will be invited to compete at the State Championship!
U.S. Steinholding Association Official Steinholding Rules will be used. There will be a team of official USSA-trained judges at the finals, so study up on the rules and spend some time training to make sure your form is clean, or you won't last long in the Championship Round!
Check out the initial state competition map and venue list below. Don't see your favorite venue listed? Let them know that you DEMAND STEINHOLDING so they best sign up! We'll be announcing more locations throughout the summer as registrations come in so check back and follow us on FB and IG for updates. Remember- these venues will have limited spaces available for their qualifying rounds, so show up early and register in advance with the venue if you can!
| Venue | Address | Competition Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | German American Central Society Sommerfest | 12403 N Hickory Grove Rd, Dunlap, IL 61525 | June 6th, 2026, times TBD |
| German American Central Society Volkfest | 12403 N Hickory Grove Rd, Dunlap, IL 61525 | July 5th, 2026, times TBD |
 | Old Bakery Beer Co. | 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, IL 62002 | July 25th, 2026 at 3:00pm |
 | Freedom Paws Service Dogs Steinholding Fundraiser at Pour Bros. Taproom | 4450 N Prospect Rd Ste C-1, Peoria Heights, IL 61616 | September 12th, 2026, time TBD |
 | Sturdy Shelter Brewing | 10 S. Shumway Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510 | September 12th and 13th, 2026, times TBD |
| German American Central Society Oktoberfest | 12403 N Hickory Grove Rd, Dunlap, IL 61525 | September 18th and 19th, 2026, times TBD |
 | Phase Three Brewing Company | 932 Donata Ct, Lake Zurich, IL 60047 | September 19th, 2026, 12pm - Men's division, 1pm - Women's division |
 | Rotary Club of Jacksonville Oktoberfest | Morgan County Fairgrounds, 110 N Westgate Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650 | September 19th, 2026, time TBD/td> |
 | Pour Bros Craft Taproom - Champaign | 40 E University Ave, Champaign, IL 61820 | September 26th, 2026, time TBD |
 | Pour Bros. Craft Taproom | 4450 N Prospect Rd Ste C-1, Peoria Heights, IL 61616 | State Finals: October 3rd, 2026 at 3:00pm (women's competition) and 4:30pm (men's competition) |
Want to compete or host a competition in a State Championship tournament? Check out the buttons below for more information!
