National History Day in Kentucky Affiliate Contest

More than 150 students from schools throughout Kentucky will present their exhibits, documentaries, websites, and performances at the Kentucky Historical Society in downtown Frankfort on Saturday, April 11, at 9 a.m. ET.

National History Day (NHD) in Kentucky is similar to a traditional science fair, but with projects centered on an annual history theme. The 2026 theme is “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Students work individually or within small groups to develop a project in one of five formats: exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, or papers. The competition enables students to serve as advocates for their work, providing real-world experience that builds confidence and conviction.

Volunteer judges, recruited from museums, universities, teachers, and the local community, evaluate the projects for historical accuracy, sources used, multiple perspectives analyzed, and relevance to the annual theme. The top two junior and senior projects in each category advance to the NHD National Contest, held at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, June 14-18, 2026.

For more information about National History Day in Kentucky, click here.