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Registration is now open for the 2026 Polk Senior Games, with sign up ending Feb. 6.
The annual two-week event will run from Feb. 28 through March 14. Men and women ages 50 and older as of Dec. 31, 2026, can compete for gold in 97 Olympic-style events across 37 sports and games. Organizers added three new events in 2026 — 3D archery, pistol rimfire and five-stand shooting.
“We’re always recruiting and promoting the games to keep new people interested in joining,” said Deena Wilbur, executive director of the Polk Senior Games.
Wilbur said the games foster camaraderie among participants. “They’re so excited to see each other again, even though they only know each other from Senior Games.”
“Our more serious competitors love the competition,” Wilbur said. “For a lot of them they haven’t done their sport for years, and they’re just getting back into things, so they want to see what they can still do.”
The games kick off at 8:45 a.m. on Sat., Feb. 28, at All Saints Academy in Winter Haven, ahead of the first track meet. “The outstanding competitors from last year’s games carry in the torch,” Wilbur said. The opening ceremony also includes the Senior Games theme song, written by Lisa Palas, Wilbur’s sister.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each event and age division. In 2025, participants set 91 new records.
How to register
This year, participants are encouraged to register through a new online registration system. Online registration must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 6.
Paper entry forms can also be downloaded on the Polk Senior Games website and must be received at the Senior Games office at 515 E. Boulevard St. in Bartow by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6.
Participants are not required to live in Polk County. Individuals who previously competed professionally must have at least 20 years since their last professional competition.
Polk Senior Games is sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation, and participants can qualify to advance to the Florida Senior Games, which lead to the National Senior Games.
A community effort
The first Polk Senior Games were held in 1992. This is the 33rd year for the competition — in 1995 the games were moved from November to March, and from 2020 through 2022, games were canceled or scaled back due to COVID.
Wilbur said it takes a lot of people to pull off the event each year, including almost 40 board members and 700 volunteers. She’s been a part of the organization for 32 years, and “many have become dear friends and like family.”
The Senior Games also wouldn’t exist without its 60 sponsors. “We are a nonprofit and we try to keep our fees as low as possible and that is because of our generous sponsors,” Wilbur said.
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Very nice. Thank you Anna!