National History Day selects a historical theme for students' research every year. The theme is chosen for its broad relevance to world, national, or state history and its significance to ancient and recent history.
The NHD theme offers:
A specific focus to enhance students' understanding of history by providing a framework for interpreting historical events.
An organized structure to help students place information in the appropriate context.
The opportunity to identify connections across different time periods.
This year's theme is
Watch the video and read the 2026 Theme Narrative below