National History Day in Indiana
National History Day® is a program that engages middle- and high-school students in uncovering and sharing history while developing their skills in research, critical thinking, writing, and public speaking.
Indiana Humanities is excited to become the Indiana affiliate for National History Day beginning in 2026. We appreciate your dedication to the program and patience through the transition. We look forward to working with you to make National History Day an engaging education experience for students across the state.
National History Day in Indiana
About National History Day
National History Day® (NHD) teaches critical thinking, writing, and research skills; prepares students for college, work, and citizenship; and inspires students to do more than they ever thought they could.
NHD reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year via its international student history contest and its wide range of teacher professional development programs, curriculum tools, and other educational activities.
NHD’s core program is its competition in which students in grades 6–12 choose a topic and dive deeply into the past by conducting extensive research in libraries, archives, and museums. They then present their conclusions and evidence through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites, moving through a series of contest levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators.
Through this process, students develop skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking. Their teachers do as well.
About the Indiana Program
Indiana Humanities became the new home for National History Day® in 2026. We appreciate your patience through the transition. We will release information on the 2026-2027 season as it becomes available.
If you have questions, please submit them to NHD@indianahumanities.org, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able.
We are honored to be the new affiliate for a program that has touched so many Hoosiers. Your support makes our efforts possible.
2027 Contest Information
Indiana Humanities will be hosting regional contests across the state followed by a state contest in 2027. Registration will open for students and teachers in January. Please check the map to confirm which regional contest students should register for.
Below are the dates for the 2027 contest season. Reach out to nhd@indianahumanities.org with any questions about registration.
North Regional Contest
Date: February 27th, 2027
Registration Opens: January 4th, 2027, 8:00 AM
Registration Closes: February 16th, 2027, 11:59 PM
Project Materials Due: February 17th, 2027, 11:59 PM
South Central Regional Contest
Date: March 6th, 2027
Registration Opens: January 4th, 2027, 8:00 AM
Registration Closes: February 22nd, 2027, 11:59 PM
Project Materials Due: February 24th, 2027, 11:59 PM
South Regional Contest
Date: March 13th, 2027
Registration Opens: January 4th, 2027, 8:00 AM
Registration Closes: March 1st, 2027, 11:59 PM
Project Materials Due: March 3rd, 2027, 11:59 PM
North Central Regional Contest
Date: March 20th, 2027
Registration Opens: January 4th, 2027, 8:00 AM
Registration Closes: March 8th, 2027, 11:59 PM
Project Materials Due: March 10th, 2027, 11:59 PM
State Contest
Date: April 17th, 2027
Students who qualify for the state contest will have their registration promoted from their regional contest.
Project Materials Due: April 7th, 2027, 11:59 PM
Volunteer for National History Day in Indiana
Volunteer judges are an essential part of NHDI contests. Judges review student project materials prior to contest, interview students on contest day, and deliberate with their judging team to provide feedback based on the provided rubric. No prior experience or specific qualifications are needed.
If you are interested in volunteering to be a contest judge in spring of 2027 or would like to learn more, please complete the interest form below.
National History Day Highlights
Learn about the National History Day program
For more than 50 years, National History Day has improved the teaching and learning of history around the world.
Read more
Learn about this year's National History Day theme
The theme for National History Day® (NHD) 2027 is Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change. Innovation goes beyond creating new tools or devices to finding new ways of thinking, organizing, and influencing society. To put it simply, innovation, at its core, is about change and the impact of that change.
To fully explore innovation in a historical context, we must look beyond the idea itself and examine its effects. How did people, over time, imagine, develop, and implement new ideas, technologies, or methods? And in what ways did those innovations influence societies?
Explore the themePartners and Funders
Questions?
Contact us!
nhd@indianahumanities.org | 317.616.9120