Iowa | Nebraska | South Dakota Massage Championship 2026

FAQs

What are Massage Championships?

Massage championships are primarily competitions, BUT it is also an opportunity to expand your knowledge, meet new people, and become inspired within your practice.

Championships take place ALL over the world. Including the American Massage Championship (in North Carolina) and the International Massage Championship (in Copenhagen, Denmark). 

Learn more at… World Massage Festival

How do I get judged?

Judges will evaluate participants in the following areas:

  • Techniques
  • Ergonomics
  • Flow 
  • Innovation and Development of new methods
  • Client contact
  • Recipient feedback

FINALS:
Duration of finals : 65 mins
Massage recipients are able to hand out up to 6 points (depending on their experience of the massage).
Head judges are able to hand out 3 points each to only ONE finalist.
The Winner will be the Massage Therapist who has the most points, and he/she is appointed as Overall State Champion in Massage 2025.

ALL decisions regarding the competition are made collectively within the group of judges to ensure competition results are fair as possible

Participants should NOT expect feedback + score results for the judges. Neither during or after competition

The SDMTC follows IMA rules

What are the official 2026 categories?

Participants can choose to compete in 1-2 of the categories offered.

Disclaimer: Categories may be dropped or added to event based on the number of participants

Official 2026 Categories:

  1. Freestyle Western
    • Techniques that are derived from Western massage styles such as Swedish massage, Myofacial release, Muscle energy techniques, Sports massage, California massage and other Western techniques.
      • Use of tools is allowed (recommended for maximum 50%) 
      • Stretching is allowed 
      • Mobilization of joint is allowed 
      • The use of oil is allowed 
      • It is performed on a mattress or on a massage table
  2. Freestyle Eastern
    • Techniques that are derived from Eastern massage styles such as Shiatsu, Thai massage, Tui na, Acupressure and Reflexology as well other Asian techniques.
      • Use of tools is allowed (recommended for maximum 50%) 
      • Stretching is allowed 
      • Mobilization of joint is allowed 
      • The use of oil is allowed 
      • It is performed on a mattress or on a massage table 
  3. Student Category
    This category is for students. Students are defined as an individual who is currently enrolled in an accredited massage school and active in the clinic stage of the massage program OR have graduated but not licensed in that state YET, not to exceed one year.

    In states without licensure, if an individual has graduated and is practicing massage for no more than a year.
    In most states the school representative will need to attend. Please consult with your state guidelines

    This is not an IMA category. It is an approved category for the states. This category will not be at AMC. If you are a student and enter AMC, You will need to pick from one of the other categories for professionals.
  4. Open Category: You must declare which one of the IMA approved Categories:

    Swedish- show all 5 basic strokes in a fluid movement​
    Sports- Deep Tissue massage, Neuromuscular techniques, stretching, MET, MFR, etc…
    Wellness- Includes but not limited to; hot stones, bamboo, cupping, aromatherapy, modalities with the use of tools, spa like modalities
    Thai- Traditional Thai, Warrior, Royal, Thai yoga ect…
    Facial Massage- (Japanese facelifting, gua sha, classical facial spa treatment)
    Clinical Massage: Demonstrate ability to Assess, Execute, and Reassess receivers
    Barefoot Bodywork: Any Barefoot Techniques (Non traditional Thai)

Must have either South Dakota, Iowa, or Nebraska current massage license to be an over all winner. There will be three overall winners. One for each state.

How do I compete?

CLICK THIS REGISTRATION LINK
You an compete in up to TWO categories