2026 AMERICAN MASSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Official Program & Schedule
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 – Sunday, July 19, 2026
Venue: Harrahs Resort & Casino, Cherokee, North Carolina

Thursday, July 16, 2026
AMC Master Classes
8:00 AM-1:00 PM – Master Class – Theresa Hensley
8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Master Class – Wassa Lakkham
8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Master Class – Maurizio Perna
8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Master Class – Maria-Claude Dumont
2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Master Class – Wassa Lakkham
2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Master Class – Maurizio Perna
2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Master Class – Maria-Claude
2:00 PM-7:00 PM – Master Class – Theresa Hensley

Friday, July 17, 2026
Competitor and Judge Engagement Day

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Competitor and Judge Collaboration Session

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Competitor Orientation
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Judge Orientation

Saturday, July 18, 2026
Commencement of Competition Rounds
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Registration Open
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Round 1
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM –  Round 2
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM  –   Round 3
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM   –  Round 4
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM – Day 1 Closing Remarks
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Rooftop Sound Bath

Sunday, July 19, 2026
Showcase of Skills, Final Rounds, and Awards Ceremony
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Check – In
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Opening of Final Day/ Judge Acknowledgements
10:00 AM – Announcement of Final Round Competitors
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Showcase of Skills.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Final Round.
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM –  AMC Ambassador Acknowledgement
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Awards Ceremony
2:30 PM – Closing Ceremony
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Masterclasses.
3:00 PM-7:00 PM – Master Class – Maurizio Perna
3:00 PM-7:00 PM – Master Class – Maria-Claude
3:00 PM-7:00 PM – Master Class – Theresa Hensley
3:00 PM-7:00 PM – Master Class – Nathan Nordstrom
More Master Classes to be announced…
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Pool Party with DJ, complimentary food, and cash bar! 

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2026 World Massage Festival

Official Program & Schedule

Sunday, July 19 – Thursday, July 24, 2026

Venue: Harrah’s Resort & Casino, Cherokee, North Carolina 

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026

7:00 PM-10:00 PM  – Kick Off Pool Party! 

We will have a DJ, free food, and a cash bar. Come have fun and kick off this festival week the right way!

 

MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Registration & Check-In

Vendor Hall is open for you to hang out, meet vendors, and join our Vendor Blackout BINGO fun!

No classes today – take it easy!

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Evening Event:

Parade of Flags & Keynote Speaker: Darren Buford

 

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Vendor Hall Open

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Classes kick off 

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch break 

– time to head to the event center for a $500 cash giveaway and other prizes – 

food is available in the vending hall.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – Vendor Hall Giveaways:

Win $500 cash & more – MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – More awesome classes 

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Evening Event: Hall of Fame Ceremony

Tuesday CLASS LISTINGS:

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – 1 of 2 Day class-Myoskeletal Alignment Technique with Tammy Mccue

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Bamboo-Fusion: Rejuvenation for Massage Therapists with Nathalie Cecilia

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Northern Thai Tok Sen with Jill Burynski

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Orthopedic Manual Therapy for Cervical Conditions with Shamaya Chah

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Forearm Fusion Foundations with Jim Funk

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Thermotherapy and Advanced Bodywork with Rochelle Hagen

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Day 1 of 2-Multiple Nerve Compression patterns with James Waslaski

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Cupping Foundations with Morgan Strong

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Advanced Kinesiology-Anatomy and Palpation Refresh with Mark Carangelo

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Day 1 of2 Synergetic Fascial and Neural Integration with Magnus and Bobbi Eklund

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Lymphatic Release for Facial Flow with Gina Bachmeier

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Seaweed Wraps with Gina Bachmeier

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Vendor Hall Open

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Classes in session 

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch break 

– time to head to the event center for a $500 cash giveaway and other prizes – 

food is available in the vending hall.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – Vendor Hall Giveaways:

WIN $500 cash & more – don’t miss out, MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – More classes in session 

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Evening Fun: Karaoke & More!

Wednesday CLASS LISTINGS:

8:00 AM-5:30 PM – Thai Pha Khaw Ma Massage with Jill Burynski 

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Orthopedic Manual Therapy for Low Back & Hip Pain with Shamaya Chah

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Forearm Fusion Advanced with Jim Funk

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – 2 of 2 Day Class Myoskeletal Alignment Technique with Tammy Mccue

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – 1 of 2 Days L.U.Y.A: Level Up Your Assessment with Brandy Fish

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Upgrade Your Hands with Rochelle Hagen

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Day 2 of 2- Multiple Nerve Compression patterns with James Waslaski 

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Intro to the World of DeepFeet Bar Therapy with China Facchini

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Cupping the Upper Body w/ Morgan Strong with Morgan Strong

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Intro to Cryotherapy 4 CE with Mark Carangelo

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Day 2 of 2 Synergetic Fascial and Neural Integration with Magnus and Bobbi Eklund

9:00 AM-11:00 AM – Ethics with Laurén Laurino

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Cupping the Lower Body w/ Morgan Strong 

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Synergetic Myofascial Therapy with Magnus and Bobbi Eklund

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – The Power of Cold Stone Therapy with Bruce Baltz

 

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Vendor Hall Open

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Classes in session 

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch break 

 Head to the event center for a $500 cash giveaway and other prizes 

Food is available in the vending hall.

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – Vendor Hall Giveaways:

Win $500 cash & more! (must be present to win)

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – More great classes

7:00 PM – 7:30pm – Evening Event: Closing Ceremony

8:00pm – 10:00 pm  – Floating Rooftop Sound Bath

THURSDAY CLASS LISTINGS:

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – TMJ-D treatment w/ Shamaya Chah 

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – 2 of 2 Days L.U.Y.A: Level Up Your Assessment with Brandy Fish

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Kinetic Chain Patterns for Complicated Knee Cond.  with James Waslaski 

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Traditional Nuad Thai Freestyle NO CEs with Len-Jinn Liang

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Myofascial Release of Intermuscular Septa 8 CE with Mark Carangelo

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Sarga Open House- An Intro to Sarga Bodywork with China Facchini

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Treating Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women  ith Gina Bachmeier

8:00 AM-12:00 PM – Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) Lower Body with Bruce Baltz

8:00 AM-6:00 PM – Integrated Cupping- Practice Session with Morgan Strong

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Lymphatic Release with Mini-Medi- Facial with Gina Bachmeier

2:00 PM-6:00 PM – Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) Upper Body with Bruce Baltz

8:00 PM-6:00 AM – Synergetic fascial Method with Magnus and Bobbi Eklund

Plus, don’t miss our Post Event Spa Day for Charity
FRIDAY – July 24, 2026 
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 
Spa Day for Charity:
$20 per 20 min session 
*You may still donate without attending