27
Registration Open — 27th Championship

The
Olympics
of the Mind

America's premier cognitive competition — open to US citizens age 13+. Showcase the unlimited abilities of the human brain.

27th
Annual Championship
2026
Season
5
Events
Qualifying: Saturday July 18, 2026 — Virtual
Finals: Saturday August 29, 2026 — Full Sail University, Winter Park FL
Registration Fee: $40
Open to US Citizens Age 13+
Top 12 Qualify for the Finals
2026 Winner Becomes 27th USA Memory Champion
Qualifying: Saturday July 18, 2026 — Virtual
Finals: Saturday August 29, 2026 — Full Sail University, Winter Park FL
Registration Fee: $40
Open to US Citizens Age 13+
Top 12 Qualify for the Finals
2026 Winner Becomes 27th USA Memory Champion
Registration Open Now

2026 Championship
Dates & Details

Compete virtually on Memory League in the qualifying round, then battle the nation's top Mental Athletes on stage at Full Sail University. Registration fee is $40.

Qualifying
Saturday, July 18th — Virtual
Finals
Saturday, August 29th — Winter Park, FL
Venue
Full Sail University
Fee
$40 per competitor
Finalists
Top 12 Qualifying Scores
Championship Events

Test Every Dimension
of Memory

01
Names & Faces
Memorize 135 name–photo pairs in 15 minutes.
Qualifying
02
Speed Numbers
Memorize 500 digits in 5 minutes, 2 trials.
Qualifying
03
Speed Cards
Memorize a full 52-card deck as fast as possible.
Qualifying
04
Speed Poetry
Memorize an unpublished poem word-for-word.
Qualifying
05
Double Deck
Two full decks. Five minutes. No mistakes.
Finals Only
2025 Champion

The 26th
Champion

Wesley
Twiggs
26th USA Memory Champion — August 2025

Wesley Twiggs claimed the 26th title at the championship held in partnership with MIT, hosted by Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.

USA Memory Championship
Free Download

Do You Have What It Takes
to Be a Champion?

Test yourself on the exact events featured every year. Download our free self-assessment guide — no registration required.

What's Inside

Championship Self-Test Guide

  • Names & Faces challenge
  • Speed Numbers test
  • Words recall exercise
  • Performance scoring rubric
  • Training tips from past champions
  • Introduction to memory techniques

Official Sponsors & Partners

Brain Training

You Don't Have to Compete
to Get Better

Whether you want to improve your own cognitive fitness, help a loved one, or simply unlock your brain's potential — our training programs meet you where you are.

Course
Maximum Memory Mastery
8 modules, 103 lessons — $199
Course
6 Keys for Brain Fitness
Science-backed brain health — $119
USA Memory Championship®

About the Championship

What Is It?

A Tournament for Mental Athletes

The USA Memory Championship® is a competition for "thinking" games. Set up as a sporting event for Mental Athletes, the tournament consists of memory-challenging events including memorization of 135 names and faces, a shuffled deck of cards, an unpublished poem, and speed numbers.

Mental Athletes compete for gold, silver and bronze awards. The top scorers advance to the Championship Round.

Our Mission

Unlimited Human Potential

Dedicated to showcasing intellectual achievement by providing a demonstration of the unlimited abilities of the human brain.

"Your brain is like a muscle. Exercise it! When given the proper training, it gets stronger, regardless of age!"

— Tony Dottino, Founder

Our Team

The People Behind the Championship

Tony Dottino
Founder & President
Tony Dottino

Founded the USA Memory Championship® in November 1997. Co-author of The BrainSmart Leader and Grass Roots Leaders. Featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and Vogue. Currently collaborating with neuroscientists from Princeton, Columbia, and MIT.

Michael Dottino
Chief Development Officer
Michael Dottino

Responsible for Maximum Memory Mastery and Six Keys for Brain Fitness courses. Collaborates with MIT's neuroscience department. Co-founder of Connect Brain Training. Previously a senior finance leader at Walt Disney World for nearly 20 years.

Karen Pinson
Chief Operating Officer
Karen Pinson

Develops all event games and serves as Director of Operations on competition day. Maintains the USAMC website and social media. Liaison to Mental Athletes through registration, Q&A, and encouragement. With the organization since 1997.

Catherine Hagan
Advisory Board Member
Catherine Hagan

Program Coordinator for the YMCA Memory Institute and co-founder of Connect Brain Training. Over 33 years as a Health Educator and Exercise Specialist. Implements science-based cognitive enrichment programs.

Colette Silvestri
Advisory Board Member
Colette Silvestri

Gifted Support Teacher and former Hershey High School Memory Team coach. Under her coaching, students won ten national titles and set three adult national records and one international record.

Jim Karol
Advisory Board Member
Jim Karol

Holds three Guinness World Records. Appeared on the Tonight Show, Ellen, and Today Show. Knows 80,000+ zip codes and thousands of digits of Pi. Author of Ultimate Memory Magic (St. Martins Press, 2019).

27th USA Memory Championship

Register to Compete

Registration Open

27th USA Memory Championship

Open to all legal US residents ages 13 and older. Requires a laptop or desktop and high-speed internet connection.

→Legal US residents, age 13+
→Registration fee: $40
→Requires: Laptop/Desktop, Memory League + Zoom accounts
→Top 12 scorers advance to in-person Finals
Schedule

Two-Stage Competition

Stage 1 — Qualifying
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Virtual — Memory League. Five events: Names, Numbers, Images, Words, Cards.
Stage 2 — Championship Finals
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida. Live staged events.

Train now at memoryleague.com

Training Prep

What to Train For

N
Names
Associate names with faces under timed conditions.
#
Numbers
Memorize long digit sequences row by row.
▣
Images
Recall a sequence of visual images in order.
W
Words
Memorize a long list of unrelated words.
♠
Cards
Memorize a full shuffled 52-card deck.
Competition Format

Championship Events

Stage 1

Qualifying Events

Max Score: 270 pts

Names & Faces

Mental Athletes have 15 minutes to memorize 135 color photos with first and last names. Then 20 minutes to recall — same photos, different order, no names shown. One point per correctly spelled name.

Max Score: 500 pts

Speed Numbers

5 minutes to memorize rows of 20 digits — 25 rows per page. Then 10 minutes for recall. 2 trials, best score counts. 20 points per complete row; any mistake scores zero for that row.

Best Time Wins

Speed Cards

Memorize and recall a single pack of 52 playing cards in the shortest possible time. 2 trials, best score wins. 5 minutes to memorize, 5 minutes to recall by arranging a second deck in the same sequence.

Points Per Word

Speed Poetry

15 minutes to memorize a previously unpublished poem, then 20 minutes to recall it word-for-word including title, author, and all punctuation.

Carpe Diem
By Patricia Anne Pinson
The horizon beyond me is vast,
And possibilities are infinite.
There are chasms, cracks, and cliffs up ahead.
But I am ready
To seize the day.
Stage 2

Championship Finals Events

Words to Remember

15 minutes to memorize 300 words in five columns. One error eliminates you. Sample:

1. fairy
2. acorn
3. jam
4. drown
5. noodle
6. lamp
7. hotel
8. cloud
9. palm
10. raft
11. essay
12. ink
13. onion
14. bargain
15. kangaroo

Three Strikes You're Out

15 minutes to review facts about 6 people — name, date of birth, address, phone, pet, hobbies, car, and favorite foods. Three incorrect answers and you're eliminated.

Double Deck Or Bust

5 minutes to memorize 2 decks of 52 playing cards (104 total). One incorrectly recalled card eliminates you — no second chance.

It's Been a Long Time

About one month before Finals, competitors receive a large dataset to memorize long-term — past subjects include the Periodic Table, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Academy Awards. Two incorrect answers eliminates a finalist.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

A competition for "thinking" games set up as a sporting event for Mental Athletes. The tournament includes memorization of 135 names and faces, a shuffled deck of cards, an unpublished poem, and speed numbers. Top scorers advance to the Championship Round to compete for the title of USA Memory Champion.
Only United States Citizens thirteen (13) years and older are eligible. Eligibility may be verified via government-issued ID, birth certificate, or US passport.
Yes! Spectators are welcome at the live Finals at Full Sail University. The event is also live-streamed on the USA Memory Championship YouTube channel.
Tony Dottino introduced the USA National Memory Championship in 1997. Inspired by Tony Buzan's memory event in England, the first championship was held to showcase the brain's untapped potential — and the rest is history.
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  • Remembering Numbers
  • Memorizing Presentations
$119
6 Keys for Brain Fitness

Learn the best strategies for keeping your brain healthy at peak performance at any age, based on the latest scientific research.

  • Nutrition for brain function
  • Exercise and neuroplasticity
  • Sleep stages and brain health
  • Mental Challenges
  • Emotions & Stress
  • Social Interaction
Personal Coaching

One-on-One
Expert Coaching

Coaching sessions via Zoom, one hour each. Your first 30-minute consultation is free.

Topics: test preparation, study habits, mind mapping, brain health.

Contact Us

Request a Session

Hall of Records

Official Record Holders

The official records of the USA Memory Championship®, set during competition by the nation's most elite Mental Athletes.

235
Names & Faces
235 Names
Nelson Dellis
2019
18s
Speed Cards
18.653 Seconds
Alex Mullen
2016
335
Speed Poetry
335 Points
Katherine He
2016
483
Speed Numbers
483 Digits
Alex Mullen
2016
Past Champions

USA Memory Champions

#YearChampion
26th2025Wesley Twiggs
25th2024TBA
—2021–2023Championship records on file
—1999–2020See official records

Full champion history at usamemorychampionship.com

Community Wellness Program

Connect Brain Training

The Challenge

A Critical Window of Opportunity

By 2060, the number of people living with dementia is expected to double. Yet between early diagnosis and later stages, there exists a critical period where individuals can continue to live independently and actively.

Connect Brain Training supports and enriches this vital phase of life through structured social, recreational, and wellness activities.

Our Approach

Holistic Evidence-Informed Care

Develop
New skills and stimulate creativity
Strengthen
Short-term memory & language
Maintain
Physical activity for brain health
Foster
Community & positive memories
Connect Brain Training
Testimonials

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Contact
Enroll — Program Coordinator
Catherine Hagan
(615) 584-4842connectbraintraining@gmail.com