2026 National History Day Theme: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
National History Day is a project-based history competition for students grades 6 through 12. Students complete an individual or group project that relates to the year’s theme in one of five categories: Historical Paper, Website, Documentary, Exhibit, or Performance.
For more information about how to get started and rules, visit the National History Day contest page.
For more information about how to get started and videos for each entry type, visit National History Day Teacher Resources.
Looking for examples of past winning projects to show your students? Visit the National History Day Project Categories page for examples from every category. Remember, while the overall presentation is important, the historical research and analysis carry the most weight in the judging process. This includes being historically accurate, analyzing information (not simply listing facts), placing the topic in historical context, using primary resources, and finding a wide array of sources.
National History Day Resources
- National Women's History Museum National History Day Resources
- The White House Historical Association National History Day Resources
- Alexandria Special Collections
- Alexandria Black History Museum, Watson Reading Room
- Arlington Public Library Center for Local History
- Library of Congress Blogs National History Day Resources