New Desert Athletic Conference set to debut for 2026-2027 high school sports season
As we previously reported back in April, there will be a new conference for local high school sports, starting in the Fall of 2026.
This 14-team conference will be divided into three sub-leagues per sport based on competitive equity. All teams in the new conference are listed in alphabetical order below.
- Banning
- Cathedral City
- Coachella Valley
- Desert Hot Springs
- Desert Mirage
- Indio
- La Quinta
- Palm Desert
- Palm Springs
- Rancho Mirage
- Shadow Hills
- Twentynine Palms
- Xavier Prep
- Yucca Valley
Every team for every sport from every school is given a number at the end of the year to determine competitive equity. That number, or ranking, will determine which league the team will be part of for that season.
Sports Director Blake Arthur sat down with PDHS athletic director Estevan Valencia for more on this new conference and what it all means going forward.
Desert Athletic Conference Conversation: Part 2
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) June 25, 2025
The new, 14-team local high school sports conference will debut in the Fall of 2026. The hope is that these changes will enhance competition and help area athletic programs have more stability and success. @KESQ @KenjiitoKESQ pic.twitter.com/rsA8Yw8VI5
The goal for this new conference is to increase local competition, while also providing stability for programs who might be struggling to fill out their roster.
