by Alexandra Moleski, Massachusetts History Day Program Coordinator
Calling all history enthusiasts–the 2026 Massachusetts History Day (MHD) contest season is here and judge registration is officially open! The MHD team has a lot of fun updates this year, and we would love to have you join us. All you need is a love of history–no experience or prior knowledge required!
Massachusetts History Day is a project-based learning program in which students grades 6-12 conduct research on a historical topic of their choice and present their work as a documentary, website, performance, paper, or exhibit. And this year, we’re thrilled to launch a new project category–the podcast! Students will have the opportunity to explore the 2026 theme Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History through storytelling.
We’ve also added two new contests this year: the Boston Metro Regional Showcase at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the Western MA Regional Showcase at Mater Dolorosa Elementary School.
We are so grateful to our MHD judges, and we are so excited that a new project category and two new contests allow us to welcome many more enthusiastic judges this contest season. Judging is a great opportunity to learn from and celebrate our student historians and their hard work. You will:
- Be assigned to a small judging team, as well as a specific age division and project category
- Review student research projects and their project paperwork
- Interview the students using sample questions provided to you
- Work with your team to determine the rankings and provide written feedback for each project
- Receive a judging orientation and all the information you need beforehand
- Enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee, and sweet treats on us!
Visit https://www.masshist.org/masshistoryday/judges for more information on MHD contests, the judging experience, and how to register.
Are you an educator? Join us as an MHD judge and earn professional development points. Teachers who judge at a contest/showcase will receive 10 PDPs per event.