This is the first edition of HomeRoom’s poll rankings of Illinois for the 2026 season, covering results from the week of Feb. 7 and earlier. Three regional experts considered 39 groups and ranked 20 of them across three divisions.

Illinois’ competition circuit is finally getting its start at Crete-Monee, now the state’s perennial inaugural competition after Mt. Zion’s move to later in the season. Naturally, many choirs are entering their first competitive outing of the 2026 season, however some have competed already and are looking to either continue their success or in some cases, mark a turning point from a rougher first outing. Nonetheless, storylines will converge, and the Illinois circuit will hav

Illinois retains more than its fair share of national powerhouses heading into 2026 and will also see a handful of elite-caliber events within state lines.

Another incredibly deep lineup of choirs is set to take the stage in Chicagoland this year to round out their competition seasons.