2026
National High School
Mock Trial Championship
Des Moines, Iowa
May 7–9
Welcome
Welcome to the official website of the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Championship.
The Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) is proud to host the 2026 National High School Mock Trial Championship in beautiful Des Moines, Iowa!
Each year, thousands of students from hundreds of schools across the country—and even abroad in places like South Korea, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. territories—dedicate countless hours preparing to argue their way to the top. The competition brings together the best and brightest young legal minds, showcasing their advocacy, teamwork, and critical thinking on a national stage.
We look forward to welcoming competitors, coaches, volunteers, and supporters from across the nation to Iowa’s capital city for an unforgettable championship experience.
Here, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit and make the most of your 2026 NHSMTC experience—from event details and schedules to local attractions and travel information.
Let the countdown to Nationals begin!
Des Moines: Where it all began
The National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC) was established in 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, as a way to help students across the country better understand and appreciate the American judicial system. The inaugural event brought together teams from five states—Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin—each of which had already developed strong state mock trial programs. The competition’s success sparked national interest, and within just a few years, nearly every U.S. state had created its own qualifying tournament to send a team to nationals.
Over the decades, the NHSMTC has become a respected academic tradition—one that not only challenges students’ critical thinking, speaking, and teamwork skills but also deepens their civic understanding.
The event continues to rotate host cities annually, partnering with local bar associations and educational organizations to bring the nation’s top young legal minds together. From its modest beginnings in Iowa to its current stature as a premier educational competition, the National High School Mock Trial Championship stands as a testament to the power of experiential learning in shaping future leaders in law and public service.
SPONSORS
