The annual Student Podcast Challenge is will be accepting entries for middle school – high school contest is open for podcast submissions for 2026. The national judges will choose winners in three categories: grade four, grades five through eight, and grades nine through 12.
American Revolution: 250th Anniversary Category:
To mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, send us podcasts that explore what the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” means to you. For this special challenge, our judges will be listening for stories that look back at historical events, take us to historic places, or that explore what it means to be an American. Stories of innovation, of rights and protest, arts and culture, civic engagement and governance, or personal narratives or beliefs. This is a new additional prize category.
Eligible: GRADES 4-12
(Teacher involvement is required.)
Deadline for submissions is May 31, 2026.
As in the past, entries must be submitted by a teacher, educator, or mentor who is 18 years or older. And don’t forget all the tips, advice and lesson plans we’ve compiled over the years – more on that below. Especially the rules around the maximum length of eight minutes, and about the use of music. After years of listening to student podcasts, we’ve learned that shorter is better.
Getting started? Check out these resources:
Teacher & Student Resources
Listen to Other Student Podcasts
Listen to Grand Prize Winner for the 2024 High School Podcast Challenge:
Learn more by listening to some of the podcasts at the Special Series NPR Podcast Challenge Page.
