Watch: National Civics Bee Championship

Fifty-two of the nation's top middle school civics students will come together in Washington D.C. on October 14 for the third annual National Civics Bee Championship - a fast-paced, live competition testing their knowledge of American government, the Constitution and the civic challenges facing their communities.

Finalists from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and American Samoa will compete for the national title - and, for the first time, the championship will be televised and streamed live on C-SPAN, bringing the excitement of the competition to a nationwide audience.

The live championship is the culmination of a nationwide competition that this year engaged more than 20,000 students from 240 communities across the country. Students advanced through rigorous local and state competitions organized in partnership with chambers of commerce nationwide.

The 2026 National Civics Bee Championship, presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will air Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 p.m. MT and will be hosted by Emmy-nominated actor and game show host Jerry O'Connell.

Tune in to support Utah's own Isabelle S. as she competes for the top spot in this year's championship. Learn more about Isabelle and her essay on 'Championing Safety and Community Awareness' here.

For ways you can bring civics education to your workplace, visit Civics Academy.

The 2026-27 National Civics Bee essay round is happening now. The competition is open to 6-, 7-, and 8-grade students. Click here for more information on how to enter the competition.