SUMMER MEANS TIME FOR
THE CORNHUSKER STATE GAMES
 

The Nebraska Sports Council (NSC), established in 1985, conducts several events and programs for Nebraskans of all ages and abilities to promote healthy and active lifestyle choices.

The NSC’s event season is well-under way with two completed events, including the Nebraska Showdown, a youth volleyball tournament that attracted 135 teams to Lincoln in late April.  Two weeks later, Nebraska DiamondFest, held in Kearney, provided fast-pitch softball fun for 29 youth teams.

The flagship event of the Nebraska Sports Council is the Cornhusker State Games, a mid-summer mutli-sport festival modeled after the Olympics, which takes place July 9-19.  Over 8,000 athletes of all ages and abilities are expected to participate in 70+ sports this year.

The Lincoln Corporate Games offers competition in a dozen sports for participating companies from August-October. The event facilitates teamwork, company unity, camaraderie, and corporate wellness through healthy competition. The event’s success in Lincoln, which had 45 companies in 2025, has led to the development of Omaha Corporate Games, which had 24 companies.

A brand new event for 2026, the 402 Bash, is an adult slow-pitch softball tournament taking place Aug. 28-30 at the Sandhills Global Youth Complex.

The always-popular Pumpkin Run, a one-mile fun run with around 4,000 elementary aged runners annually from 55 area schools, takes place in late September or October in the Railyard.

Nebraska NetFest in Kearney, set for October 16-18, provides a showcase for pickleball players and youth volleyball teams of all skill levels.  Same for youth wrestlers in the Heartland Havoc November 14-15 at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln.

Throw in the Council’s annual Golf Scramble (September 14) and Awards Banquet (November) and the calendar is full. All told, more than 30,000 Nebraskans will participate.

To learn more about and/or register for the events, go to Nebraska Sports Council web site