Created around 1760 as a geographical teaching aid by London cartographer John Spilsbury, jigsaw puzzles have grown into one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world. With a wide range of designs and difficulty levels, they not only challenge cognitive skills like pattern recognition and visuospatial reasoning, but can also help reduce stress by boosting mood and mental agility. In fact, demand has surged so significantly—particularly in the wake of the 2020 pandemic—that the global jigsaw puzzle market is projected to reach $3.53 billion USD by 2033. Competitive jigsaw puzzling has also continued to grow in popularity, with regional and national competitions held across many countries while being streamed to audiences on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
One such tournament, the USA Jigsaw Nationals, kicked off last month in Atlanta. Held annually, this popular event not only showcases the sport of speed puzzling but also highlights some of the best puzzlers in the country while bringing together an ever-growing community of fans. Featuring multiple events and activities alongside $6,500 USD in cash prizes, the 2026 Jigsaw Nationals & Convention delivered an experience designed for puzzlers of all ages and skill levels.
This year’s primary sponsor was Ravensburger, which supplied a wide selection of puzzles for the competition. Founded in Ravensburg, Germany by Otto Maier in 1883, Ravensburger began by publishing instruction manuals and board games such as 1884’s Journey Around the World. Over time, the company expanded into wooden toys and educational products before partnering with Disney to launch the popular Lorcana card game in 2023. Now recognized as a leader in the jigsaw puzzle market, Ravensburger has produced puzzles with as many as 40,000 pieces and even held the 2010 world record for the largest jigsaw puzzle ever made.
For the 2026 USA Jigsaw Nationals, Ravensburger provided 14 different puzzles, including four 1,000-piece designs: Plundered Putt, The Final Curtain, Mountainside Puzzling, and Beach Treasures. A further ten 500-piece puzzles rounded out the lineup, including Atlanta Skyline at Dusk, Savannah, Georgia, Lookout Mountain, Front Porch Days, Rolling Hills, Tropical Vibes, Sweet Playground, Oceana, Moss, and Bow Bridge Beauty. While all of these puzzles were unreleased at the time of the event—held March 27–29 at the Atlanta Convention Center—they have since been made available for purchase through Ravensburger’s official website.
The 500-piece puzzles retail for $17.99 USD each, while the 1,000-piece options are priced at $24.99 USD. All 14 puzzles are currently in stock and ready to ship, making now the perfect time to try your hand at the very same designs featured in this year’s competition.
And if you’re looking to catch some of the highlights from this year’s event, be sure to check out the official USA Jigsaw channel on YouTube.
Happy puzzling!
