NPR Launches 2026 Student Podcast Challenge with U.S. 250th Anniversary Prize
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NPR has opened its eighth annual Student Podcast Challenge. The competition invites students in grades four through 12 to create and submit an original podcast.
For the 2026 contest, NPR will award a special prize for the best podcast marking the United States' 250th anniversary. The nation will commemorate this semiquincentennial, or 250-year milestone, in July 2026.
The challenge encourages students to explore history, culture, and their own communities. All entries must be submitted by an educator on behalf of their students.
This annual contest aims to help young people develop storytelling and audio production skills. Winners are featured across NPR's platforms.