As of April 2026, USPSA and Steel Challenge reached a major milestone: 45,000 members. That’s the largest our organization has ever been, and it’s more than just a number, it’s a testament to the passion, growth and dedication happening across every level of the sport. Whether you’re running a club, working the timer or showing up for your first match, you’ve played a part in this.
To hit 45,000 members is exciting, but what’s even more important is what it represents. It reflects increased engagement at the local level, full squads at major matches, a surge of interest from new shooters and a wave of volunteers stepping up to keep everything moving. We’re averaging more than 46 new members every single day, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down.
GROWTH STARTS AT THE CLUB LEVEL
At the core of this momentum are our clubs. Across the country, 516 USPSA clubs and 304 Steel Challenge clubs are active and running matches. That’s where the action happens. These clubs are the entry point for most shooters into the sport, and they’re also the foundation for long-term participation.
We closed out Q1 of 2026 with match activity up more than 20% in USPSA and 15% in Steel Challenge compared to Q1 of 2025. That’s a big jump, and it reflects not only more matches being hosted but also more shooters showing up to compete. Club matches are filling up, registration links are getting hammered and squads are filling up fast.
A PACKED MAJOR MATCH CALENDAR
The 2026 calendar is stacked. As of mid-April, there are 87 Level 2 and Level 3 USPSA matches scheduled across the country, plus 37 Steel Challenge major events on the books.
That’s a significant number of opportunities for shooters to test themselves beyond the local level—and a sign that match directors are stepping up in a big way. From the classic destination matches to newer events building a reputation, there’s no shortage of options to get out and compete.
BUILDING UP RANGE OFFICERS AND THE NEXT GENERATION
The future of USPSA and Steel Challenge depends on solid match staff, and that starts with education. In the first three-and-a-half months of 2026 alone, we’ve already completed 36 NROI Range Officer seminars, helping train and certify the next wave of match officials. That number is expected to climb, with more than 55 additional seminars scheduled throughout the remainder of the year. This includes more than just Range Officer classes helping grow the pool of volunteers.
VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN
We say it often, but it bears repeating—this sport runs on volunteers. It’s easy to focus on the competition, the gear, the guns and the stages, but none of it happens without the people behind the scenes. These are the people driving USPSA and Steel Challenge forward.
LOOKING AHEAD
With a record number of members, strong match activity and a packed calendar of events and training, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for USPSA and Steel Challenge. But we’re not taking our foot off the gas; we’re 45,000 strong and still climbing. Let’s keep it going!
Article from the May/June 2026 issue of USPSA’s magazine.
