NAFA CanAm Classic 2026 guide

The NAFA CanAm Classic returns to Indianapolis from Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September 2026. Three separate one-day tournaments will run inside the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center.

Entries are now closed. The official registration period ran from 1 July to 11 August 2026, so this guide is for entered teams, supporters making travel plans and flyball fans following the annual CanAm race weekend.

This is not a final race schedule. Public racing times, division line-ups, streaming details and results had not been verified when this guide was checked on 27 August 2026. Keep an eye on the official CanAm website and its linked channels as the event gets closer.

If you are new to the sport, our introduction to flyball explains the relay, hurdles, box turn and racing basics before you get into the CanAm-specific format.

NAFA CanAm Classic 2026 at a glance

Here are the confirmed event details:

• Dates: Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September 2026
• Venue: West Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center
• Address: 1202 E 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205
• Tournament structure: Three separate one-day tournaments
• Runback: 70 feet
• Racing surface: Tough Spun Matting
• Class entry fee: $200 per class
• Entry status: Closed
• Official event IDs: 26000003, 26000004 and 26000005

The three event IDs correspond to Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the official NAFA tournament database. Although the database still records the class fee, that is not an invitation to submit a late entry. The event registration page states that entries are closed.

The official location page confirms that the West Pavilion offers indoor space, parking and access to RV camping. It also notes that hotels and restaurants are available nearby.

Spectator admission arrangements have not been confirmed in the public information checked for this guide. If you are travelling only to watch, check the official CanAm channels before setting off rather than assuming entry terms, opening times or seating arrangements.

How the three-day tournament works

CanAm is not one tournament stretched across three days. The official format describes Friday, Saturday and Sunday as separate one-day tournaments.

A team can have different racing outcomes on each day. Saturday's performance also affects eligibility and seeding for parts of Sunday's programme.

The listed classes are:

• Juniors, offered on Friday only
• Classic Regular
• Classic Multibreed
• Classic Open
• CanAm Regular, offered on Sunday only to qualified teams
• CanAm Multibreed, offered on Sunday only to qualified teams

Classic racing gives entered teams competition across the weekend. The CanAm Regular and CanAm Multibreed classes on Sunday are invitation-based parts of the event, with eligibility tied to Saturday.

For a wider explanation of how divisions, heats and racing rules fit together, read our flyball rules and race format guide. CanAm has its own published tournament conditions, so the official event format should take priority whenever a general guide and an event-specific instruction differ.

Friday's classes

Friday is the only day on which Juniors are listed. Classic Regular, Classic Multibreed and Classic Open are also part of the published class structure.

Anyone following junior racing should wait for the public schedule before making assumptions about start times or running order.

At the time of checking, no verified public division line-up or detailed Friday timetable was available. The event homepage links to the main event information, camping information and registration area, but it should not be treated as a race-by-race schedule.

Why Saturday matters for Sunday

Regular and Multibreed teams hoping to race in the CanAm classes on Sunday need to race on Saturday.

The official tournament format states that Regular and Multibreed teams must race on Saturday to be eligible for Sunday. Saturday Classic entries are eligible to receive invitations to the CanAm Regular or CanAm Multibreed competition.

Not every Saturday entry can receive an invitation. Performance teams, FEO teams and teams that forfeit are not invited. Open teams are also not eligible for invitations to the CanAm Regular or CanAm Multibreed classes.

Classic Open remains part of the event, but it is not a route into Sunday's CanAm Regular or Multibreed competition.

For eligible Regular and Multibreed teams, Saturday establishes the information used for Sunday's invitations and seeding.

Mandatory measuring applies at the event. Entered clubs should use the official information sent by the organisers for measuring procedures, deadlines and any team-specific instructions.

How Sunday invitations and seeding work

Sunday includes Classic racing alongside CanAm Regular and CanAm Multibreed for teams that qualify through the published process.

The official format says Sunday Classic seeding is based on each team's fastest time from Saturday. That means the Saturday time, rather than an earlier seed time from elsewhere, is used for this part of Sunday's event.

There is also a Sunday breakout rule for Regular and Multibreed. Except in Division 1, the breakout is set at 0.3 seconds faster than the top seed in the division.

The relevant figure is the top seed established for that Sunday division, followed by the event's published 0.3-second adjustment. Teams should rely on the official division paperwork once released rather than trying to predict breakouts from an incomplete entry list.

Division 1 is the stated exception to this Sunday breakout rule.

If you normally race under another organisation, some of this terminology may feel familiar while the details differ. Our guide to flyball rules around the world provides useful context on how governing bodies and competition structures vary between regions.

The venue and racing setup

The event is being held in the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis.

The official location information confirms an indoor setting with parking and RV camping available at the wider venue. The NAFA tournament database lists a 70-foot runback and Tough Spun Matting for each of the three event days.

A 70-foot runback is useful information for teams planning their race-day setup, but the final layout and access instructions should come from the organisers. Public information checked for this guide did not yet confirm crating allocations, loading arrangements or the precise internal floor plan.

Indoor racing removes some weather uncertainty from the competition surface itself, but September conditions can still affect travel, dog walking and time spent outside the pavilion. Check the local forecast close to departure and pack for the full weekend rather than the racing lane alone.

The official location page says hotels and restaurants are nearby, but it does not guarantee availability. Teams still looking for accommodation should check current availability directly with the relevant provider.

RV camping at CanAm

The official RV page lists 170 full-hookup sites at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The published price is $65 per night, plus 7% tax and additional fees. The official page also states that there is no dry camping.

Payment cannot be made on arrival at the site. Anyone using an RV space needs to follow the advance booking and payment process published by the organisers.

Availability may change as the event approaches. Use the official CanAm RV information page for the current booking route and instructions.

For teams sharing vehicles, equipment or camping responsibilities, it is worth agreeing the practical details before travel. Confirm who holds the booking, which nights are covered and how arrival information will be shared with the group.

Planning the weekend

With entries closed, the useful work now is less about registration and more about keeping the club organised.

Start with the information that is already fixed: the venue address, the three event dates and the classes your team entered. Then keep the details that may change, such as schedules and division lists, in one place where handlers can find the latest version.

Avoid building a tight travel plan around an assumed racing time. Until an official schedule is published, Friday, Saturday and Sunday should each be treated as full event days by those taking part.

Team managers will also want a clear record of which dogs and handlers are attached to each day's line-up. Saturday eligibility rules make accurate communication particularly important for Regular and Multibreed teams hoping to receive a Sunday invitation.

Good changeovers will still matter once the racing starts. Our guide to flyball changeovers covers the timing, observation and repeatable practice behind cleaner passes without pretending that one technique suits every pairing.

It is also sensible to separate confirmed organiser information from club notes. A message saying "meet at 7" should make clear whether 7 is an official check-in time, a club decision or an early estimate. That small habit can prevent an old message from being mistaken for an event update.

Following CanAm from outside Indianapolis

Flyball followers do not need to be travelling to Indiana to follow CanAm, but viewing information needs to come from verified official sources.

As of 27 August 2026, public streaming details had not been verified. Public racing schedules, division line-ups and results had not been verified either.

Check the official CanAm homepage closer to the event for newly published links. Be cautious with saved links from previous years, as a familiar page or channel does not prove that it will carry the 2026 event.

Once racing begins, use official results or organiser updates before sharing placements, winning times or division outcomes. Fast-moving social posts can be useful signposts, but they are not a substitute for the published record.

Keep your own team information together

A CanAm weekend can scatter team line-ups, event notes and late changes across several conversations.

Clubs can use Flyball Hub to keep their day-to-day team information in one place. If CanAm planning has uncovered another spreadsheet, message thread or paper list that only one person understands, take a look at the Flyball Hub app features.

Official tournament communication still takes priority. Flyball Hub gives your club one place to manage its own training and event information, while the organiser remains the source of truth for schedules, eligibility and results.

What to check before the event

Before travelling, check the official CanAm channels for:

• The public racing schedule
• Division and team line-ups
• Measuring instructions
• Venue access and arrival guidance
• Any spectator admission information
• Streaming or live coverage links
• Published results during and after the weekend

None of those details should be guessed from previous editions.

CanAm runs from 18 to 20 September at the West Pavilion in Indianapolis. Entries are closed, and Saturday has a direct role in Sunday eligibility and seeding.

Bookmark the official pages now, then check them again close to departure.

Sources checked

Information in this guide was checked on 27 August 2026 against NAFA's CanAm homepage, location page, tournament format, RV information, registration page and tournament database listings. Each source is linked beside the claim it supports.