The International History Olympiad is a competition organized by International Academic Competitions which is designed to bring the top history students from around the world together for an unforgettable week full of various competitions with a history-based theme, and a chance to meet students with similar interests and talents from around the world. The next International History Olympiad will be held from July 17-24, 2027 in Berlin, Germany. There are also optional programs for family members and friends who are attending the Olympiad as well as pre and post-Olympiad tours to Munich, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Leipzig (July 13-16) and Dresden and Prague (July 25-27). There are also optional day trips t0 Potsdam and Wittenberg (July 17) or Dresden, not including the onward journey to Prague (July 25). Note that the Olympiad is held in odd-numbered years, and it alternates with its sister competition, the International Geography Championships, which is held in even-numbered years.

In contrast with other Olympiads for other disciplines, the International History Olympiad differs in a number of respects including the following:

  1. Participants are divided into five divisions (Elementary School, Intermediate, Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity) depending on their birthdate and/or grade in school.
  2. Numerous events are held, but only one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal will be distributed per event, per division (though on team events, all team members in medal position receive medals).
  3. Citizens and residents of the United States represent their state (or the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or other territories), not their country.
  4. Qualification is conducted through the International History Olympiad Qualifying Exam, participation in National History Bee and Bowl (in the USA) or International History Bee and Bowl events, or by having medaled at a prior International History Olympiad.
  5. The events of the Olympiad are tailored to meet the requirements of a normally non-quantitative discipline such as history.

For more information, please explore our website, or contact olympiad@iacompetitions.com with any questions you may have. Thanks for your interest in the International History Olympiad!