National Mixed Show Choir Poll Rankings (2026 Postseason)
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The national rankings are one of HomeRoom Show Choir's most recognizable staples. These rankings are determined using a complex mathematical formula that relies on each group's results. While these rankings are fun and spotlight many groups (a maximum of 100), it sometimes means the humans and their perspective take a backseat.
That's where these national poll rankings come in. Six HomeRoom staffers were polled on the nation's top 25 mixed groups in an effort to bring the humans back into the process. As in any good show choir competition, the scores were tight and there were plenty of hairs pulled trying to separate the great groups from the generational groups.
Center Grove (IN) “Sound System” (3 first-place votes)
Center Grove has arguably been the most dominant choir of the past three seasons, and there is no indication that they are slowing down. They have continued to face top competition at nearly every stop they made across four different states and dominated the scoreboard regardless of where they competed. Their combination of vocal skill, which has defined their brand for decades now, paired with April James' choreography, seems to be an unstoppable force constantly improving to best any group that stands in their way. - Will Kaiser, Indiana contributor
John Burroughs (CA) “Powerhouse” (3 first-place votes)
There are shows in show choir where everything just seems to click, and Powerhouse had one of those shows this year. Their dive into the 1970s showcased the program’s Broadway-caliber solo talent, elite whole-group visuals, and the best that California set and lighting design has to offer. Burroughs swept all three local contests they went to, including matchups with both Los Alamitos and Burbank, and broke the California Curse at Wheaton Warrenville South. While almost every Burroughs show is remembered for some aspect, it appears likely that 2026’s show will be revered in a similar manner to some of the most time-tested shows like Star Wars. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Linn-Mar (IA) “10th Street Edition”
Linn-Mar has gone five straight seasons undefeated and has won a total of twenty-one competitions in a row. The past couple of years the choir has defeated some strong Midwest competition with a style that is getting flashier and more elaborate by the year. Thanks to their choreography team Lexi Robson, Braxton Carr, and April James, and their mastermind director Trent Buglewicz, 10thSE has put on emotionally impactful spectacles year after year. And with a rumored return to nationals next season, the choir doesn’t look like it will
be slowing down any time soon. - Timothy Laubach, Iowa contributor
Los Alamitos (CA) “Sound FX”
In the group’s first year with no influence from longtime director David Moellenkamp, some wondered if the product put on stage would turn out any different. The answer to that question was a resounding “no.” While it was a tough season locally, losing to Burbank once and a generational Burroughs show twice, FX pulled up to Heart of America Orlando with perhaps a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. They rolled through what some thought was going to be a tight competition, sweeping Johnston (ranked eighth in this poll), Westside (ranked 16th), and several others for a statement year-defining win. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Burbank (CA) “In Sync”
Sometimes, a third-place showing at a competition would be good enough for a top-five anywhere in the country - and that’s what happened to Burbank at Oceanside this year. In Sync made their first trip east of the Mississippi River in several years, easily dispatching the field at Marysville to take home the win. In February, Burbank defeated Los Alamitos in a split-caption decision at Esperanza. Combined with a sweep at Burroughs in April, and at one point, In Sync was in the midst of a four-competition win streak, something incredibly hard to do at the top of the California pyramid. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Franklin Central (IN) “FC Singers”
Franklin Central has been one of the most interesting groups in Indianapolis over the past 3 years. Their 2026 meadowlark show is the third consecutive story show that FC Singers has brought to the stage, a design move that has truly set them apart in the Indianapolis circuit. They have become 2026 HomeRoom Best Choreographer Tori Brindi’s flagship group, and they have captions to prove why they deserve that status. In such a competitive circuit, their innovation in show design, when well executed, has paid extreme dividends. - Will Kaiser, Indiana Contributor
Carmel (IN) “Ambassadors”
If you get to a point in a program where a one-loss season, in which you only drop one caption all year and win one of the largest competitions of the year, is considered a down year, then you are doing something unbelievably right. Carmel remains one of the most consistent programs on this list, rarely putting a foot wrong. They are also one of the few groups in Indy that have rebelled against the screen revolution despite having every resource needed to acquire one. Instead, they take the time and effort to make props and backdrops for their shows that immerse viewers into their stories. That is the best allegory for the Carmel program, not taking new shortcuts, but rather taking the time to make a polished product that they are proud of and can win competitions. - Will Kaiser, Indiana Contributor
Johnston (IA) “Innovation”
2026 was yet another solid season for Johnston, where they made an appearance at a national level competition after three years, taking first runner up behind Los Alamitos. Innovation is well known for their strong vocals throughout their performance, dropping the vocal caption just once. Additionally, Show Choir Camps of America recognized them, selecting them to perform as a guest show choir at their annual camp this year. At their current pace, there is no doubt Johnston is going to continue to be one of Iowa's top powerhouses for many years to come. - Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
Ankeny Centennial (IA) “Spectrum”
Well within the top 10, Ankeny Centennial had a one loss season, with their only blemish coming against powerhouse school Linn-Mar at the end of the year. Their debut was Grand Champ after Grand Champ, topping some of Iowa’s best powerhouses, including Urbandale, Waukee and Valley. Spectrum is known for their unique story shows and have been on the rise since 2025. Centennial will be seeing a couple new faces in 2027, as they will compete against Millard West and Elkhorn South from Nebraska. - Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
Clinton (MS) “Attaché”
Despite barely cracking the top 10, Clinton had a valid claim to the any of the higher spots on this list. Why? It has been 13 years since Clinton has placed lower than the title of Grand Champion, embodying the textbook definition of a powerhouse. However, Clinton still leaves room for improvement. With a relatively young group and having caption struggles against the likes of Tupelo and Grenada, Clinton has the chance to take the next season and really display their stranglehold on the Southern circuit. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
North Central (IN) “Counterpoints”
North Central often suffers from the saturation of phenomenal show choir within the Indy circuit. It's difficult to stand out nationally when you rank fourth behind three consistently top ten national programs. So, when the group's prelim performance stormed to second at SCN prelims, they surprised many outside the Indianapolis. However, for those following the group for many years, this was not a surprise. This was the culmination of director Jared McElroy and choreographers Dominic Matas and Tori Brindis continuing the school's excellence in music education and returning the group to its top form. North Central's hard work paid off and proved to everyone around them that North Central remains an important player at any competition across the country. - Will Kaiser, Indiana Contributor
Urbandale (IA) “Studio”
If anyone is a master at creating shows based off of movies or musicals, it is definitely Urbandale. Studio’s Man of La Mancha was a beloved show by many in the Des Moines Metro. They gained two first place finishes and two second place finishes under Adam Brown, who is an alumni from Urbandale. Braeden Cox received a Homie Award from Homeroom Show Choir as being the best character portrayed in a show in 2026. Studio has announced their 2027 show titled Mount Olympus. We will see where next year takes this top performing group. - Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
Gretna (NE) “Revolution”
Gretna has been on a generational, never before seen run in Nebraska, and this year is no exception. Losing to only Linn Mar, Franklin Central, and Carmel in 2026 is a very impressive feat as those are some of the best groups in their states. In Nebraska, Gretna beat out Millard West after they lost to WIG back in 2025. It’s safe to say that Revolution will remain a top group in the state and possibly the country for the foreseeable future. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
Zionsville (IN) “Royalaires”
Zionsville is similar to North Central in that they suffer from competing primarily in Indianapolis; on top of that, they only take on four competitions a year. This leaves very little wiggle room, with any nearby competition likely to have at least one of the top ten groups in the country. Though, as they proved at WWS 2024 and SCN 2025, they are not to be ignored, and they are just as tough to beat as anyone else in Indianapolis. Even though they won just a single grand championship this season, they can easily find themselves with a chance to end the night as Grand Champion at almost any competition in the country. - Will Kaiser, Indiana Contributor
Homewood (AL) “The Network”
Despite their rocky start to the season with a loss against West Jones, Homewood rebounded in a fantastic way: sweeping Avon, winning the toughest Southern competition of the year, and placing third overall at Show Choir Nationals. However, most eyes will be turned toward Homewood next season for a different reason: director Byron Mosquera has announced he’s stepping down. Where will the new directing team take The Network? How will the group fare post-departure? Only time will tell. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
Westside (NE) “Amazing Technicolor Show Choir”
With one of the biggest director changes seen between the 2025 and 2026 seasons, there was some hesitancy with ATSC. But Andrew Jacobson showed that ATSC is still ATSC. The Omaha group was able to best Millard West after WIG beat them in 2025, and they were the only group this season to take Best Band away from Linn Mar. With Stephen Todd sticking with ATSC for 2027, Westside will likely remain a strong contender in the Nebraska scene. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
Marysville (OH) “Swingers Unlimited”
In a state that provided few concrete conclusions last season, Marysville is widely considered to be the best in Ohio. Swingers have not lost to another Ohio group since 2023. In 2027, Marysville will likely face some of the state's former powerhouses that are rising programs once again, like Findlay and Solon, while still competing against some of the toughest competition on national stages. - Fox Gansler, Ohio Contributor
Waukee Northwest (IA) “Eos”
Four competitions and three wins later, Waukee Northwest had a great fourth competitive season after being introduced in 2022. Eos saw what Wisconsin had to offer over at Holmen, beating all of the well-known groups, including Sparta, Onalaska, and Sauk Prairie. While they fell to Johnston at the end of their season, they defeated some of their best competitors in Urbandale and Waukee. Next season, Eos will face powerhouses such as Urbandale, Westside, Gretna East and Bloomington Kennedy, to test their resolve as they move onto their fifth year as a competitive show choir. - Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
Gretna East (NE) “Equinox”
Being in their third year as a competitive show choir and placing in the Top 20 of our rankings is a very impressive feat for Equinox. This includes losing to only two groups in 2026, Millard West and West Des Moines Valley. Equinox’s rise through the Nebraska ranks is largely due to Nathan Wallace’s leadership, and there are no signs of them slowing down. In 2027, the group will face Iowa powerhouses Urbandale, Waukee Northwest, and Johnston, some of the hardest competition they have ever seen. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
Broken Arrow (OK) “Tiger Rhythm”
Broken Arrow had quite the season, only losing their opening competition against Johnston before cruising through the rest of the season without dropping a single caption. Their Dorian Gray inspired show dominated regionally despite the drastic improvements within Texas and Missouri. Broken Arrow is looking to put their name back in national competition as they plan to compete at HOA Orlando in 2027, where they will face many of the nation's best. - Elli Peck, Oklahoma Contributor
Davenport Central (IA) “Central Singers, Inc.”
After starting the season with a split-caption loss to Valley, it was smooth sailing for CSI, who cruised through multiple Des Moines-area competitions as well as Western Dubuque to finish off their local slate in late February. Central’s national competition slate included toppling Sparta, Briarwood and Blue Valley to claim the FAME Orlando win before sweeping the FAME National Finals in Branson. While CSI went undefeated in 2025, their expanded (and by many accounts, more difficult) competition season in 2026 proves that the group has not lost the luster they’ve found since returning from the pandemic. - William Soquet,
Editor-in-Chief
Bloomington Kennedy (MN) “Rhythm in Gold”
RIG had what can best be described as a generational season. Kennedy won five competitions across four states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and California), with its lone loss coming at the hands of La Crosse in January. RIG’s Cruella show will go down as one of “the Kennedy shows” alongside Ghostbusters, Frozen, and Moulin Rouge, among others. After scoring a combined one win between 2018 and 2022, Kennedy has been on top for a few seasons now. It appears that the group is locked and loaded for 2027, with a preliminary roster of 72 - yes, you read that right - 72 singer/dancers and a trip to Wheaton Warrenville South on tap. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Ankeny (IA) “Visual Adrenaline”
Ankeny had an impressive season despite winning just two grand championships at their four competitions. At Ankeny Centennial, they took best vocals and second place behind Waukee Northwest. North Polk featured a turn of events when Visual Adrenaline initially placed first in prelims against Davenport Central and Valley, before placing second overall in finals – an impressive feat for who they were up against. Ankeny ended their season on a high note at Bishop Heelan, taking all three major captions. VA will continue to be a powerhouse school in the Des Moines Metro in the years to come. - Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
Millard West (NE) “West in the Groove”
Taking only one Grand Champion trophy might not look that impressive initially, but West in the Groove still had a very impressive season, facing some of the toughest competition they’ve seen in years. This included Gretna, Westside under new direction, Urbandale under new leadership, a newly improved Loveland, and Zionsville. Past that, WIG was able to steamroll the rest of the groups in Nebraska, ranking over Gretna East, Millard North, Papio South, and Lincoln Southwest. WIG has been one of the more impressive Nebraska groups for quite some time, and there are no signs of that changing. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
Solon (OH) “Music in Motion”
MIM had another top-notch season that put them among the best in Ohio. The group was firing on all cylinders to start the season, claiming a no-caption win at a hotly-contested Beavercreek event on Jan. 18 to kick off the season. Solon only lost to Findlay and Marysville throughout the course of the season, keeping themselves in the conversation wherever they went. Although there was no undefeated season or out-of-state trip like there was in 2025, those are unrealistic expectations to hold on a year-to-year basis, and MIM continued to put out a crisp, polished product (both vocally and visually) and did enough to claim the last spot in these inaugural national poll rankings. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
States Represented in the Rankings: Iowa (7), Indiana (5), Nebraska (4), California (3), Ohio (2), Alabama (1), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Oklahoma (1)
Receiving Votes: Avon “Accents”, Brandon “Brio”, Grenada “Visions”, Horizon “Step on Stage”, Loveland “By Request”, Neosho “Choraleers”, Oak Mountain “Singers”, Valley “Choralation”, Waukee “Millennium”, West Jones “Imagination”, Wheaton North “Flight”
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