2026 National Matches Close with Significant Participation Gains
August 31, 2026
By Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus
For the second year in a row, the National Matches that were conducted by the CMP and Ohio National Guard at Camp Perry enjoyed significant participation increases in almost all National Matches Championships and individual events.
What Are the National Matches? The National Matches, which take place annually at Camp Perry, Ohio, are the nation’s premier rifle and pistol championship. For the more than four thousand competitors who participate in the Matches, they are a grand national shooting festival. The National Matches were established by Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. They were administered by the Department of War and Department of the Army for 93 years. They nearly ended in 1968 due to government funding cutbacks, but they were kept alive by the NRA and a large cadre of volunteers. In 1996, Congress and President Clinton approved a National Defense Authorization Act that established the CMP, whose “functions” included taking over the administration of the Matches. The CMP, Ohio National Guard and NRA shared National Match administrative duties and the Matches’ competition calendar for two decades. The NRA ultimately decided to withdraw its national championships from Camp Perry so today, the CMP, in partnership with the Ohio National Guard, administers the National Matches.
The National Matches Program. The 2026 National Matches began on the 9th of July with Junior Three-Position Air Rifle competition. They were officially inaugurated on the 13th of July with a First Shot Ceremony. The Matches ended on the 9th of August with an International Palma Team Match between Canada, Great Britain and the USA. In 32 full days, there were championships in a dozen different target disciplines: Three-Position Air Rifle (for Juniors), Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Bullseye Pistol, Smallbore Rifle Position, Smallbore Rifle Prone, Highpower Rifle, Vintage Military Rifle, As-Issued Pistol, Rimfire Sporter, and Mid- and Long-Range Rifle. Featured events on the schedule included traditional President’s Rifle and Pistol Matches, National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Individual and Team Matches and the always-fascinating Infantry Trophy Team Match. There were special industry Glock and Fulton Armory (M-14 Heritage) sponsored events. Overall, the 2026 National Matches had 34 Championship events.
Substantial National Matches Growth in 2026. In 2025, the National Matches enjoyed a phenomenal year of growth with 28 National Matches Championships averaging participation increases of 12.5 percent. The 2026 National Matches achieved participation gains that were almost that high again this year. There were 19 Championships/Events that gained competitors this year, even considering the substantial growth in 2025. There were only five Championships that showed small losses, none exceeding three percent. Weather and Canadian wildfire smoke were negative factors this year, causing an additional five events to have losses or cancelations. The most significant 2026 growth increases were in Long-Range Rifle (+48%), Mid-Range Rifle (+29%), National Trophy Rifle Team Match (+23%), Long-Range Palma (+23%) and Air Pistol (+22%).
Reasons for National Match Growth. There are many reasons why the National Matches grew again this year. First, there is evidence of increased interest nationally in rifle and pistol competition shooting. Second, the CMP has made a significant investment in electronic targets for Camp Perry; this was the second year that all Highpower Rifle, Smallbore Rifle and Rimfire Sporter competitions were conducted on electronic targets. Third, all National Matches events are open events where qualification to attend is not required; and those events are backed by a comprehensive education program where everyone who comes can attend schools or clinics designed to improve their scores. Attendance by teams from Great Britain and Canada certainly contributed to the growth of Long-Range Rifle. New growth in Long-Range F-Class and Air Pistol was significant. An overriding reason for National Match growth may be the effort the CMP has put into caring for competitors. CMP staff, Range Officers and volunteers are trained to emphasize great competitor experiences. Real effort went into adding special events like beach parties, movies and memorable award ceremonies.
Perfect Gun Safety Record. The goal of the CMP Range Safety SOP is “to have zero personal injuries related to the use of guns in CMP activities.” The 2026 National Matches fulfilled that goal. 4,400 competitors brought an estimated 8,400 rifles and pistols to Camp Perry where they fired an estimated 996,000 shots with zero safety incidents resulting in any personal injuries. The 2026 National Matches proved once again how safe pistol and rifle target shooting is.
Highlight Events. Every National Matches has its highlight events that attract special attention from other competitors, media and even spectators. Highlight events in this year’s matches included:
First Shot Ceremony. The First Shot Ceremony is the official opening ceremony of the Matches. This Ceremony has become a spectator event with a featured First Shot Speaker, historic plane overflights and a pyro-technique aided “first shot.” This year’s Ceremony was special for two reasons. The First Shot Speaker, Jim Henderson, who won the President’s Pistol Match eight times in past Matches, fired the first shot with a pistol. In the three decades when the Matches have had First Shot Ceremonies, that has never been done. Jim also invited a Junior pistol competitor, Jason Marshall from Ohio, to fire a first shot with him. That was the first time a Junior competitor had ever participated in the Ceremony.
President’s Rifle Final. For the last 26 National Matches, the President’s Rifle Match has ended with the top 20 competitors in the regular 30-shot course of fire shooting an additional 10-shot final, with the winner being decided by their 40-shot score totals. The CMP brought in two large electronic scoreboards to keep several hundred spectators appraised of ranking changes. This year’s winner, Major Sam Freeman, ARNG, received what has become a tradition, teammates dowsing him with the range ice bucket.
National Trophy Award Ceremonies. Camp Perry’s historic theater is the site for several large award ceremonies. The best attended ceremonies were the National Trophy Award Ceremonies for Pistol and Rifle. The presentation of Distinguished Badges on stage during those ceremonies is a grand experience for new Distinguished competitors and their friends. Multiple standing ovations went to the National Trophy winners.
International Palma Team Match. This year’s Matches concluded with an International Long-Range Palma (800-900-1000 yards) Match for teams representing Canada, Great Britain and the USA. The tradition of international Palma Matches where national teams of 20 competitors who each fire 15 shots at 800, 900 and 1000 yards (45 shots total) goes back to 1874 and the first of these international competitions. The USA won the competition this year, 5,339 to Great Britain’s 5323 and Canada’s 5322.
Who Were the National Champions? Several National Matches Championships are becoming recognized as major national championship. The chart (below) lists Matches events that are achieving recognition as national championships with their 2026 winners:
The 2026 National Matches conducted by the CMP and Ohio National Guard achieved a second consecutive year of remarkable participation growth. This growth reflects a commitment by the CMP to make every year’s National Matches a great national shooting sports festival with competition championships that fulfill the expectations of competitors and affords them many great and memorable experiences. If you were not part of the 2026 National Matches, you should be thinking about attending in 2027. Start your planning by going to https://thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches/ on the CMP website.
