Lafayette Square, Buffalo, Erie County, NY Source: Library of Congress
2026 NHD Annual Theme
National History Day: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
Each year the National History Day office selects a broad theme for the History Day contest. Students may choose any topic related to local, regional, national, or world history, as long as his or her research and conclusions clearly relate to the theme. Judges look for evidence that the theme has been adequately addressed in all History Day projects.
2026 NHD Theme Resources
History Day Basics
History Day is open to all students in grades 6-12. All types of students participate in NHD--public, private, parochial and home-school students; urban, suburban and rural students; academically gifted and average students, and students with special needs.
There are two divisions of competition: junior and senior. There are nine categories of entries for each division: individual exhibit, group exhibit, individual documentary, group documentary, individual performance, group performance, individual websites, group websites and individual historian paper. Students can compete at the school level to qualify for their local regional contest. Winning students in regional competitions may move on to state competition, and the top two entries in each category and division at the state contest are eligible to participate in the national contest.
Students choose a history topic related to NHD's annual contest theme, conduct extensive research over the course of the school year, and create performances, documentaries, papers or exhibits which they may enter in competition at the district, state and national level.
First, students should find out if their school has an established History Day program. If not, they simply need to find a teacher who would be wiling to act as a sponsor for their projects. He or she just needs to be someone who can help keep the students with their time management, and serve as a mentor as they research and create their work. Students do not need to register to participate in the program unless they plan on competing. Some schools have their own contests first to determine who will move on to the regional contests. Regional registration forms are typically due in February. Check the regional homepages for more specific information, including downloadable registration forms. Top entries at the regional contest may move on to the state contest. Registration information for the state contest is online, and details will be given to the winners at the regional contests.
There are two divisions of competition: junior and senior. There are nine categories of entries for each division: individual exhibit, group exhibit, individual documentary, group documentary, individual performance, group performance, individual websites, group websites and individual historian paper. Students can compete at the school level to qualify for their local regional contest. Winning students in regional competitions may move on to state competition, and the top two entries in each category and division at the state contest are eligible to participate in the national contest.
Students choose a history topic related to NHD's annual contest theme, conduct extensive research over the course of the school year, and create performances, documentaries, papers or exhibits which they may enter in competition at the district, state and national level.
First, students should find out if their school has an established History Day program. If not, they simply need to find a teacher who would be wiling to act as a sponsor for their projects. He or she just needs to be someone who can help keep the students with their time management, and serve as a mentor as they research and create their work. Students do not need to register to participate in the program unless they plan on competing. Some schools have their own contests first to determine who will move on to the regional contests. Regional registration forms are typically due in February. Check the regional homepages for more specific information, including downloadable registration forms. Top entries at the regional contest may move on to the state contest. Registration information for the state contest is online, and details will be given to the winners at the regional contests.
2025 WNY History Day Event Special Awards Winners
- Best Overall Entry: Sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Council of Social Studies.
- Best Local History Entry: Sponsored by the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Association.
- Best Community Themed Entry: Sponsored by Erie County Historical Commission
- Best Researched Entry: Sponsored by City of Buffalo Historian
- Best Education Themed Entry: Sponsored by Canisius College
- Best Sports Themed Entry Sponsored by the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
- Best Political and/or Citizenship Themed Entry: Sponsored by the TR Inaugural Site
- Best Science Themed Entry: Sponsored by the Niagara Areospace Museum
- Best African American History Entry: Sponsored by the Afro-American Historical Assoc. of the Niagara Frontier
- Best Military Themed Entry: Sponsored by the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park
- Western New York History Day Teacher of the Year: Sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Council of Social Studies.
All awards are subject to change and judgement of the sponsoring agency.
Using National History Day in Your Classroom
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