About Middle & Elementary School Nationals
The 2026 International Academic Competitions Middle & Elementary School National Championships will take place from May 21-25, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. The National Geography Bowl (May 16), National Humanities Bee (May 17-18), and National Biology Bee (May 17 & 19) are held online. Registration details will be available be available at a later date.
Official Host Hotels
Please note that according to the IAC Stay-to-Play Policy staying at one of the official host hotels is required for all families outside a 100-mile driving radius of the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Main Events at Nationals
Learn more about each event by clicking on its logo.
Other Events
Past National Championships
Study Resources
Registration, Costs, and Qualification Notes
Note: Please read all information below before registering!
Important Registration Notes
Official Refund Policy
2026 IAC Middle & Elementary School National Championships Costs
Other Individual Student Event Costs
History Bowl
Max size is 4 players at once; unlimited substitute players
Academic Bowl
Max size is 4 players at once; unlimited substitute players.
Geography Bowl
Max size is 2 players at once, a 3rd substitute player is allowed
Note: This event will take place online the weekend before Nationals.
Family and Teacher Event Costs
Qualification Notes – Please read before registering!
- 1
The National History Bee, National Geography Bee, and National Science Bee require prior qualifying through the National Science, History, and Geography Bee Regional Tournaments (for the National History Bee, note that it is also possible to qualify through National History Bee and Bowl Regional Tournaments).
- 2
The National Biology Bee, National Citizenship Bee, National Humanities Bee, National Mathematics Bee, US Geography Bee, US History Bee are open only to students who have qualified for these events through their respective National Qualifying Exams.
- 3
The US Geography Championships is open only to students who have qualified for and are competing in the National Championships of the National Geography Bee.
- 4
The National Academic Bee and the Jeopardy! Charity Games are open to any student who has qualified for and is competing in either the National Geography Bee, National History Bee, and/or the National Science Bee at the National Championships.
- 5
Teams in the National Geography Bowl do not require any sort of qualification this year. Teams, however, must all be composed of students attending the same school or homeschool association.
- 6
Teams in the National History Bowl must have qualified at a National History Bee and Bowl Regional Tournament or have at least one student who has qualified for and is competing in the National Championships of the National History Bee. The other student(s) do not require prior qualifying.
- 7
Teams in the National Academic Bowl must have qualified at a National Academic Bowl Regional Tournament or have at least one student who has qualified for and is competing in the National Championships of the National History Bee, National Geography Bee, or National Science Bee. The other student(s) do not require prior qualifying.
- 8
No qualification of any sort is required to compete in any of the National Championship Exams, the Intro to Model UN, the Family Quiz Night, and the US Spelling Championships. In addition to students who have qualified for the events at Nationals that require qualification, these events are open to siblings, friends, and anyone in Orlando during the National Championships who is in 8th grade or younger during the 2025-26 academic year.
- 9
The IAC Parents Academic Bee is open to any adult family member in an older generation than the member of their family competing at the National Championships in any event. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins once removed, etc. Family friends are welcome to compete as well.
- 10
The IAC Teachers Academic Bee is open to any teacher or administrator at any school with at least one student from their school competing in any event at the National Championships.
- 11
The IAC Siblings Academic Bee is open to any family member in the same generation of a competing student at Nationals, including cousins. However, this competition is NOT open to any student who is competing in any of the buzzer-based events at the National Championships that require prior qualification. Nor is the Siblings Academic Bee open to students competing in the Model UN National Championships. Those caveats aside, high school-aged siblings of students who are attending the Middle and Elementary Nationals are welcome to compete as well, as are primary and secondary school-aged friends of students competing at Nationals. There will be separate age divisions for this competition; age cut offs for these will depend on enrollment numbers.