The American Cornhole League has announced a significant change to its bag licensing policy for the 2026-2027 season, giving ACL-licensed manufacturers considerably more freedom to participate outside of the ACL ecosystem.
The new policy takes effect October 15, 2026, and could have a meaningful impact on bag manufacturers, competing organizations, and ultimately cornhole players.
For years, one of the biggest questions surrounding licensed manufacturers has been how much freedom they have to work with other leagues and organizations while maintaining their ACL licensing.
The ACL’s latest update provides a much clearer answer:
Licensed manufacturers will now be allowed to manufacture and sell products for other cornhole organizations and the non-ACL market while remaining ACL licensees.
That is a notable shift.
ACL Manufacturers Can Now Work With Other Organizations
Under the expanded policy, current ACL-licensed bag manufacturers in good standing may produce and sell bags for other cornhole organizations.
Perhaps even more significant, an existing ACL-approved bag series can be manufactured and sold carrying another organization’s approval mark or certification, provided the manufacturer meets that organization’s approval requirements.
In practical terms, a manufacturer could potentially have the same bag series approved for ACL competition while also having that series approved by another organization.
The ACL stated:
“The new and expanded policies… allow manufacturers to produce separate products for other leagues while continuing their relationship with the ACL.”
For manufacturers that want to reach players competing under several organizations, that creates considerably more flexibility.
Non-Stamped Bags Are Also Allowed
The change isn’t limited to competing leagues.
ACL-licensed manufacturers will also be permitted to manufacture products for the broader non-ACL market.
That means being an ACL licensee no longer necessarily requires a manufacturer’s entire product strategy to remain centered around ACL-stamped equipment.
There are still restrictions.
For example, an ACL-licensed manufacturer cannot use a series name that is already registered to another ACL-licensed bag manufacturer, regardless of whether that product is intended for ACL competition, another organization, or the non-ACL market.
So while the policy expands manufacturers’ options, ACL protections surrounding registered series names remain in place.
A New Licensing Committee Gives Manufacturers a Voice
The ACL also announced the creation of a Licensing Committee consisting of seven licensees elected by their peers.
According to the announcement, the committee is designed to represent manufacturers across licensing tiers and provide direct input into ACL policy discussions.
The committee can provide feedback on proposed changes and evaluate how those changes may affect manufacturers of different sizes.
For the 2026-2027 season, the announced representatives include manufacturers such as AR Cornhole, Alien Cornhole, Cornhole Scenario, Throwdown Bags, SZB, SEVA Cornhole and Ultra.
The creation of the committee suggests the ACL wants manufacturers to have a more formal role in the licensing process rather than licensing decisions flowing entirely in one direction.
Why This Could Matter for Cornhole
The most interesting part of this announcement may be what happens beyond the ACL itself.
Cornhole has continued to develop through local tournaments, regional organizations, independent events and emerging leagues. Equipment manufacturers naturally want access to as many of those players and markets as possible.
Under the new policy, manufacturers don’t necessarily have to choose between maintaining an ACL relationship and participating elsewhere.
That could potentially result in:
- More manufacturers supplying bags to multiple organizations
- More crossover between equipment used in different leagues
- Greater product availability for players outside ACL-sanctioned competition
- More opportunities for newer organizations to work with established bag manufacturers
- Increased competition among organizations seeking manufacturers and players
Exactly how large the impact becomes will depend on how manufacturers and other organizations respond after the policy takes effect.
This Is a Significant Change in Direction
The timing also makes this announcement particularly interesting.
Cornhole is becoming increasingly fragmented, with independent organizations and regional groups looking for ways to establish their own tournaments, standards and identities.
Allowing manufacturers to participate in those markets without necessarily giving up their ACL relationship removes one potential barrier to that growth.
Instead of forcing an either/or decision, manufacturers can potentially participate in several parts of the cornhole industry simultaneously.
For players, that may ultimately mean more choices.
For manufacturers, it opens additional markets.
For other leagues, it could make attracting established equipment companies easier.
And for the ACL, it allows the league to maintain relationships with manufacturers even when those companies decide to participate elsewhere.
What Happens Next?
The expanded policy becomes effective October 15, 2026.
The bigger story will be what happens afterward.
Which manufacturers will begin producing bags for other organizations? Will established ACL-approved series begin appearing with multiple certifications? Will competing organizations develop their own equipment standards and approval programs?
Those are questions the cornhole community will be watching closely.
One thing is clear from the ACL’s announcement: the boundaries surrounding bag manufacturing are becoming less restrictive, and manufacturers will have more options for where they do business in the 2026-2027 season.
For an industry that appears to be moving toward more leagues, more organizations and more choices for players, this licensing change could become an important development in how competitive cornhole evolves.
