Handball Futures Festival
An Olympic-style showcase for U.S. women’s team handball
Modeled after the original U.S. Olympic Festival, the Handball Futures Festival brings the country’s top women athletes together for elite competition and community — a showcase for top talent to shine.
About the Festival
How it works
Athletes are selected through an invitation-only process and divided into four regional teams — North, South, East and West. Over four days of competition, each region plays the other three, followed by bronze and gold medal matches.
The format mirrors international play and gives top talent a national stage to shine — with the USA Women’s National Team coach in attendance.
The legacy behind it
In 1978, Bill and Frankie Tutt created the National Sports Festival — later the U.S. Olympic Festival — in Colorado Springs to give American athletes high-level competition between Olympic cycles. It helped put lesser-known sports like team handball in the spotlight. The Handball Futures Festival carries that blueprint forward for a new generation.
48
Invited athletes in 2026
4
Regional teams
8
Matches over four days
23
2026 athletes in the WNT Development Pool
2026 champions
West wins the Inaugural Festival
The first Handball Futures Festival was held July 22–25, 2026, at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs. The West Region took gold with a 23–13 win over the East.
Gold
West
Silver
East
Bronze
South
4th place
North
Photos
Festival moments
See the full collection from the Opening Ceremony, Meet & Greet, match play and Awards Ceremony on SmugMug. Photo purchases support next year’s Festival.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors & supporters
El Pomar · USA Team Handball Foundation · Colorado Springs Sports Corp · FuseSport · Increnovo · Jose Muldoon’s · Hummel · USA Team Handball · Circle of Champions · Fountain Valley School · UCHealth · Gatorade · Trader Joe’s · Save A Lot · Sam’s Club
Coming in early June 2027
The 2027 Festival is growing
56 athletes, 10 coaches and an extra day of competition. Help us bring it to life — as a donor, a sponsor or an athlete.