HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS 2026!
OPEN (UNTESTED) RAW / WRAPS
& DRUG TESTED WRAPS
LIVE AT AUSFITNESS EXPO SYDNEY
HOW THE QUALIFYING PROCESS FOR APL NATIONALS WORKS:
Qualifying for Nationals will follow 7 steps.
Step 1: Compete at any APL competition between August 30th 2025 – May 24th 2026.
Step 2: Set the biggest Total you can!
To compete in the Drug-Tested Wraps division your total must have been set as a Drug-Tested competitor
*You can apply for the Wrapped division with a total set in the Raw division.
Step 3: Submit a Nationals Expression of Interest form.
*Expression of interest forms will go live April 1st 2026 and will close May 25th 2026. Competing at an event between April 1st and May 24th will not affect your qualification or put you at a disadvantage.
Step 4: After the submissions have closed on May 25th, we will rank all athletes based on the EOI’s received. *See the ranking system section for further details.
Step 5: Invitations will be sent out based on the rankings, with the first invitations sent May 27th. Invitations will be sent out via a round system with invitations sent until Nationals is sold out. The 2025 Nationals sent out 3 rounds of invitations.
Step 6: If you receive an invitation, you will have 72 hours to accept and process your Nationals entry fee before your invitation becomes void and it is then sent to the next highest ranked lifter.
Step 7: Train hard and we will see you at Nationals!
RANKING SYSTEM:
After finalising the number of available spots, lifters will be ranked within their division, weight class, and category based on their best performance during the qualification period.
Rankings are primarily determined by total lifted within each weight class.
Invitations will be issued to the highest ranked lifters.
This system establishes a performance-based benchmark across all divisions, driven by results achieved throughout the year rather than a pre-set qualifying total.
Qualification is not based on filling divisions, but on overall competitive standard.
For example, if a lifter in the Men’s 125kg Wrapped division records a total significantly below the competitive standard of other divisions, they may not receive an invitation despite being the only applicant in that category.
Initial invitations will be prioritised based on Open division rankings. Remaining positions may then be allocated across other categories where appropriate, based on performance and overall competitiveness.
*IMPORTANT Qualification for Open Nationals is limited. Rankings are used to guide selection, not guarantee qualification. Final invitations remain at the discretion of the APL.
MASTERS AND JUNIORS:
Masters and Junior lifters are eligible to qualify for Open Nationals.
Selection remains performance-based, with all lifters ranked within their respective divisions and weight classes.
Additional consideration is given to Masters lifters to ensure strong representation across the event, while maintaining the overall competitive standard.
The majority of Masters and Junior opportunities are allocated within APL Drug Tested Raw Nationals, where demand for these divisions is highest.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM:
The Nationals Expression of Interest form will be released on April 1st 2026 and will close on May 25th 2026.
Athletes looking to qualify for Nationals must complete the form by the due date of May 25th. Any submissions after this date will not be accepted.
On the EOI you will be required to fill in the details of the competition you achieved your best total during the qualifying time frame (August 30th 2025 – May 25th 2026).
*Do not fill in the EOI until after you have competed. The order in which EOIs are received will have no impact on invites.
Lifters will be required to select the Weight class they wish to apply for at Nationals. You may apply to be considered for multiple weight classes. Masters/Juniors must nominate a weight class in the EOI; moving down is not permitted from the class competed in during the qualifying period
*Lifters cannot go down a weight class from which they set their qualifying total, they may however go up a weight class, but will be ranked against lifters in the weight class they select.
Eg: a 67.5kg lifter may elect to qualify and be ranked in the 75kg weight class, but may not drop down to the 60kg weight class. Please see rule 5.1.10 of the APL rule book
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: As a Master or Junior, if I receive an invite, do I need to choose between competing in my age division or the Open division?
A: No. Masters and Junior athletes who receive an invitation to Nationals will automatically compete in both their age division and the Open division. This means eligible athletes can place and receive awards in both categories.
Q: I won Nationals last year, do I have to re-qualify ?
A: YES! Everyone will need to re-qualify. This ensures fairness across the board
Q: How do I know where I am ranked ?
A: A good indicator of where you may be ranked is via OpenPowerlifting. You can filter Auspl-tested and see where you are ranked against everyone else.