NHD Participation and Registration Information

2025-2026 Important Registration Deadlines
  • Oct. 31, 2025: Last day to register your school/home school association/family under the normal fee amounts.
  • Nov. 1, 2025: First day registration fees increase by $10/school or $5/home school or family.
  • Feb. 20, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT: Regional registration deadline and paper/website lockout.
  • March 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT: State registration deadline (see note below).
  • March 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT: Lockout deadline for papers and websites; lockout deadline for Written Materials for documentaries, exhibits and performances.
  • TBD: National registration deadline and paper/website lockout.
Institutional and Educator Membership Details Student Registration
Again in 2026:

All students (regardless of project type) participating in the state contest will be required to submit their written materials (process paper and bibliography) by the lockout deadline on March 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT. This rule was put in place for 2022 and we've had a lot of great feedback from judges who enjoyed being able to have more time to read process papers and explore sources. This rule changes has been cleared and approved by the national office. Process papers will be turned in through the registration system by uploading a PDF version similar to what the paper category does.

Student Registration

Are you ready to register for a NHD® contest?

Starting in January 2025, you can follow the steps below to start your NHD journey!

  1. Visit Contest Information to check out important deadlines for registration and lockout dates.
  2. Before you start your registration, check with your teacher to make sure they have filled out the Institutional and Educator Membership forms.
  3. Find out what region you are in so you know what contest to register for. You can find the regional map below.
  4. Go to the NHD registration site to register for your regional contest. Links to each registration page can be found below. Don't forget your username and password - you will use this same login information if you advance to the state or national contest!
  5. Follow the steps and finish registration.
  6. Questions? Ask your teacher first. If they can't help you, work with them to contact Sarah Jacobs (state coordinator) to answer your questions.

   
 

NHD in SD Regional Map
Contact Information