2026 Illinois BJJ Tournaments – Complete Guide

 

2026 Illinois BJJ Tournaments – Complete Guide

Want to find all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments happening in Illinois in 2026?
This guide helps you step by step with clear instructions and working links. Bookmark it and come back often so you never miss an event.

Step 1: Start on Smoothcomp (Main Tournament Calendar)

Nearly every BJJ tournament uses Smoothcomp to post registration and event details.

  • Go to: Smoothcomp – Upcoming Events

  • Type “Illinois” in the search bar. You can also try city names like “Chicago”, “Aurora”, “Naperville”.

When a 2026 event goes live, Smoothcomp will show the official event page with date, rules, and how to sign up.

Step 2: Watch Grappling Industries – Chicago Events

Grappling Industries runs large round-robin style tournaments.

This is a key tournament to track.

Step 3: Check NAGA (North American Grappling Association)

NAGA sometimes hosts tournaments in the Chicago area.

  • For example, they run the Chicago Grappling & BJJ Championship.
    Visit the NAGA city page for Illinois to monitor updates: NAGA Chicago (NAGA Fighter).

Step 4: Track IBJJF Chicago Opens

IBJJF holds big Open tournaments at Chicago State University under names like:

  • Chicago Spring International Open

  • Chicago Summer International Open (Wikipedia)

These are major events worth watching in the official IBJJF calendar.

Step 5: Watch FUJI BJJ Events in Illinois

FUJI BJJ has hosted events in Illinois.

  • For example: FUJI BJJ Rockford, IL Open (listed on FUJI’s events page) (FUJI BJJ)

Check FUJI’s site regularly for updates on Illinois stops.

Step 6: Monitor Venue Calendars

Places like Oak Lawn Pavilion often host these tournaments.

  • Keep an eye on venue scheduling pages for keywords like “grappling,” “BJJ,” or “tournament.”

How to Use This Guide (Easy Steps)

  1. Start with Smoothcomp: search “Illinois” or a city name.

  2. Watch for Grappling Industries Chicago dates.

  3. Check NAGA Chicago city listings.

  4. Monitor IBJJF Chicago Open on IBJJF’s calendar.

  5. Look at FUJI BJJ’s events page for Rockford and other IL stops.

  6. Watch venue listings for early tournament clues.

Your method to catch every Illinois event in 2026.

Quick Search Shortcuts to Copy

  • site:smoothcomp.com Illinois BJJ

  • site:grapplingindustries.com Chicago

  • site:nagafighter.com Chicago

  • site:ibjjf.com Chicago Open

  • site:fujibjj.com Rockford

FAQ – Illinois BJJ Tournaments 2026

Q: How many tournaments will Illinois have?
A: Usually several—like the Grappling Industries Chicago rounds, IBJJF Chicago Opens, and local stops like NAGA or FUJI.

Q: When are 2026 dates posted?
A: Most go live 3 to 6 months before the event. Check late 2025 and early 2026.

Q: How can I confirm an event is real?
A: It should have a live registration on Smoothcomp or appear on the official organizer’s site like Grappling Industries, NAGA, or IBJJF.

Bottom Line

To stay on top of all 2026 Illinois BJJ tournaments:

  • Use [Smoothcomp] for live registrations

  • Follow Grappling Industries, NAGA, IBJJF, FUJI for IL stops

  • Check venue calendars, especially around Chicago

  • Revisit this guide often to catch new listings as they drop

This simple plan ensures you won’t miss a single tournament in Illinois in 2026!

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