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2027 International History Olympiad

Berlin, Germany
July 17-24, 2027
Ages 7-18

Starting in 2027, the International History Olympiad (IHO) will be held in conjunction with the Model UN World Championships for those interested in participating in both! IHO is a biennial celebration of history attended by the best primary and secondary school history students from around the world, featuring competitions, field trips, social activities, and much more.

Info & Qualification

IAC & IHO:

Event History

Since 2010, IAC has organized history quiz competitions around the world. These are run primarily under the headings of the National History Bee and National History Bowl for students in the USA, and the International History Bee and the International History Bowl for students in Asia, Australia & Oceania; in Canada; and in Europe.

International History Olympiad in Berlin, Germany

Biennially, in July of odd-numbered years, IAC also organizes the International History Olympiad (IHO) as a multi-faceted world championship-level competition for the top history students ages 7-18 around the world. IHO was most recently held in Paris in July 2025 with 432 Competing Students, and will next be held from July 17-24, 2027 in Berlin, Germany.

Students pose at the Eiffel Tower at the 2025 International History Olympiad in Paris

Note that in 2029, the International History Olympiad and the Model UN World Championships will be held during the same week! Students attending the Model UN World Championships who have qualified for the International History Olympiad will be able to take part in both competitions if they so choose! No mandatory IHO and Model UN World Championships events will run at the same time.

The most likely host city for both the 2029 International History Olympiad and the Model UN World Championships is Vienna, Austria, but this has not yet been confirmed.

2025 International History Olympiad in Paris

Overview

About the International History Olympiad

The International History Olympiad consists of over 40 competitions, each of which is considered its own medal event. Olympiad competitions consist of buzzer-based quiz tournaments, multiple choice and written exams, history-themed games, and much more. In 2027, there will be a significant slate of historical simulation competitions, including historical Model UN committees. In addition to the competitions, there will be numerous field trip opportunities to explore Berlin. There are also opening, closing, and daily medals ceremonies at the Olympiad.

Competition

Students compete for their country or territory; students from the USA compete for their state. A medals table is kept (see the 2025 example), just like in the Olympics. Different medals are awarded for each event for each of the four age divisions. There is also an overall Olympiad championship title that is awarded on the basis of top performance in the most prestigious events, including the International History Bee World Championships, the Battery Exam, the Written Exam, and the Historiography Exam.

Qualification

Students can qualify for the 2027 International History Olympiad through the ways listed here. The single quickest way to qualify for IGC is through the 2027 International History Olympiad Qualifying Exam.

Registration, Costs, and Financial Aid

Registration for the 2027 International History Olympiad will open on this page in November 2026 and run through late June 2027. The costs and financial aid options will be posted here by the time registration opens.

Family and Friends Program

Parents, siblings, other family members, teachers, and coaches are welcome to attend the 2027 International History Olympiad! Through participating in the Family and Friends Program, they can both take part in select competitions and the different Field Trip opportunities.

Pre and Post Tours

In addition to the field trips in and around Berlin, students taking part in the 2027 International History Olympiad will have the opportunity to participate in optional Pre and Post Tours that IAC will be organizing for students and their families. These include the following:

Pre-Tour: Munich, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nuremberg & Leipzig (July 13-16)
Pre-Day Trip: Potsdam and Wittenberg (July 17)
Post-Tour: Dresden and Prague (July 25-28)
Post-Day Trip: Dresden (July 25)

More Information

Explore the International History Olympiad

For further information on the International History Olympiad, please visit the website, and in particular the FAQ page. Note that the Olympiad website is in the process of being updated for IHO 2027. Additional information will be posted to the website on a continual basis as it becomes available.

Visit the IHO Website