2026 Theme:
"Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History"

Registration Window: August 11, 2025 - January 30, 2026

STUDENTS CANNOT REGISTER UNTIL THEIR TEACHER DOES AND CANNOT PARTICIPATE WITHOUT A REGISTERED TEACHER.

​

​​

​

Student Criteria​:

• Must be a student at a school in Manatee County (public, private, charter, or homeschool)

• Must be sponsored by a teacher who teaches in Manatee County (the project does not need to be required or on their syllabus).

​​​

Student Registration (Open August 11, 2025 - January 30, 2026)*

Whether you have participated in the past or are new to the program, you are required to register through our contest management website, Z Fairs, annually.

​​​​​

Registration Reminders: 

• You will not be able to register until your teacher has completed their registration 

• Use your personal email to register - your school's firewall will most likely block emails from ZFairs if you use your school email.

• You will need to provide your parent/gaurdian's contact information - any contact between coordinators and students (if needed) will include the parent/guardian and teacher

• Be sure to always check your spam/junk folder for emails from MHD Zfairs.

• If you are not receiving any emails from MHD Z Fairs please contact the contest coordinators.

​

Registration Instructions: 

• Register Here

• Written Instructions 

• Video Walk Through

​​Student projects are due by January 30, 2026. No late student registrations or projects will be accepted.​ You do not have to submit your project to register on Z Fairs but both registration and project submission are required to participate in the program. ​If your teacher has not completed registration by December 19, 2025, you will not be able to compete.

​

Project Submission (Due January 30, 2026): 

You do not have to submit your project when you register on Z Fairs. If you have already registered and are submitting your project at a later date, click HERE for instructions. 

​

If your teacher has not completed registration by December 19, 2025, you will not be able to compete.

​

Student Schedule*

Please note that some dates may be subject to change and no exceptions to these deadlines will be accepted.

Student Registration Opens: Monday, August 11, 2025 (students cannot register until their teacher does)

Student Registration and Projects Due: Friday, January 30, 2026 (for students to participate - their teacher must have registered by December 19, 2025)

Exhibit Board Drop Off (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 9 AM - 12 PM 

Performance Judging (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 21, 2026

Final Round Judging: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Exhibit Board Pickup (at Manatee Village Historical Park): February 25 - 28, 2026 from 9 AM - 4 PM (open hours)

Awards Ceremony** (at Manatee Village Historical Park): Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 2 PM - 3 PM

Final Call to Pick Up Contest Materials***: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

​

*MHD judges will not interview students at this year's competition.

** Entries for the State Team will be selected from each category based on content, subject matter, and research.  Winning 1st or 2nd place does not guarantee selection to move on to state.

***Any items (exhibit boards, performance props, etc.) left after 4 PM will be disposed of

​​