Washington â September 28, 2026 -- Fifty-two middle school finalists from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and American Samoa will compete for a $100,000 prize at the third annual National Civics Bee Championship, set for Wednesday, October 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Championship makes broadcast debut on C-SPAN
For the first time, the event will be televised and live-streamed on C-SPAN and C-SPAN.org, as well as YouTube, expanding the competition's reach to a nationwide audience. The show will be hosted by Emmy-nominated actor Jerry O'Connell and produced under executive producer Hilary Crow, with Steven Raff and Caitlin Thomas as co-executive producers.
More than 20,000 students competed across 240 communities
The national final caps a competition that engaged over 20,000 students from 240 communities, who advanced through local and state rounds organized with chambers of commerce nationwide. Presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the program tested students on American government, the Constitution and real-world civic issues including youth mental health, food insecurity, affordable housing and wildfire preparedness.
Winner receives $100,000 education savings plan
Finalists will compete through five rounds â a team presentation, a multiple-choice segment, a head-to-head gauntlet, an interview round and a final buzzer round â to win the Bill Daniels National Civics Award along with a $100,000 529 education savings plan. Last year's champion, Aarit Koul of Jackson Township, Ohio, became the program's second national titleholder.
Program launched in 2023, funded by corporate and philanthropic partners
The National Civics Bee, launched in 2023, is backed by founding partner the Daniels Fund along with the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, Wilson Garling Foundation, Britebound, Ibis Group, the Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, The Anschutz Foundation, Fisher Global Foundation and College Board. Michael Carney, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, said civics functions as "the operating system for the 21st century," underpinning both democracy and the economy. Applications for the 2027 competition are open through February 2, 2027.