CEDAR CITY — Competition is in the air Friday in Cedar City. It's the 40th anniversary of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, which draw in thousands of athletes from across Utah. The opening ceremony is on Friday night, and organizers expect spectators to really enjoy the celebration.
Opening ceremony event details
“The 40th anniversary party should be a lot of fun tonight,” said Jon Ogelsby, Utah Summer Games executive director.
Ceremony performances and torch lighting
The opening ceremony at the Eccles Coliseum Field at Southern Utah University will rewind the clock to 1986 with live performances from Shuffle, an 80's tribute band. The ceremony will also include one of southern Utah's largest fireworks shows. Members of the 222nd unit of the Utah National Guard, based in southern Utah, are expected to light the torch.
Athlete participation and new sports
Roughly 11,000 athletes from across the western United States, some as young as 4 years old, were expected to compete in the 2026 Utah Summer Games. Among the 36 different sports to be featured there are two new sports this year: slow-pitch softball and outdoor volleyball.
Economic impact on Cedar City
The Utah Summer Games report from 2025 shows the economic impact of the games in Cedar City was an estimated $17 million dollars. The executive director of Visit Cedar City & Brian Head said that the financial impact benefits hotels, restaurants, gasoline and snack sellers in town, as well as merchants who sold Gatorade for athletes competing in the games.
Additional games and celebrations
The 2026 games include four state championships, a cheer and dance camp, and they will be featured in the America 250 celebration events.
Event schedule and coverage information
The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 p.m. at SUU. The KSL Block Party, providing pre-game festivities, starts at 5:00 p.m. Watch KSL throughout the day on Friday for coverage of the games.
