2026 AQHA Leveling Point Ranges

AQHA leveling point ranges for 2026 are now available online.

The 2026 AQHA leveling point ranges are now available online. Exhibitors and horse owners can begin to determine their eligibility for next year’s show season.

View the 2026 leveling point ranges.

Point ranges identify the levels that exhibitors and horses are eligible for when competing at AQHA shows. Owners and exhibitors can view the new point ranges and compare their show record for an approximation of the levels for which they are eligible in the 2026 show season. Points earned through October 31, 2025, will be used to determine the level at which an individual competitor or horse will fall within for the 2026 show season.

The online level verification system for exhibitors and horse owners to look up their class-by-class level eligibility will be updated prior to January 1, 2026. Points are tabulated through October 31 in accordance with SHW250 so that level eligibility will be available for shows starting in January.

Level eligibility is effective January 1 of each year, and exhibitors and horses maintain eligibility through December 31, regardless of the number of points earned during the year. Beginning with the 2026 class range levels, point ranges for levels will not include points from lower levels of that class. Please be sure to check the class levels as several classes have changed, making the range lower than what you may have anticipated.

AQHA points earned are not the only factor taken into consideration when determining level eligibility; awards won are also considered, including alliance partner points and earnings. Money won in other equine organizations or associations also affects eligibility. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to update their Level 1 eligibility annually to disclose achievements earned outside of AQHA competition.

Exhibitors who win classes at the AQHA Level 1 Championships are no longer eligible to compete in that class at any future Level 1 Championships. A similar rule also applies to the Level 2 Championships, if an exhibitor wins a class at the Level 2 Championships, they are no longer eligible to compete in that class at any future Level 2 Championships for the subsequent three years. However, if an exhibitor is otherwise Level 1 or 2 eligible, they may continue to show in that class in Level 1 or Level 2 weekend show competition.

Rules SHW245 and 250-252 further address level eligibility and how it is affected by awards won.

Visit www.aqha.com/leveling to learn more about how level eligibility is determined and for more insight on AQHA levels, which range from Rookie for beginning competitors to Level 1 for the minimally accomplished, Level 2 for the moderately accomplished and Level 3 for the highly accomplished.