Trump Announces High School Athletic Competition as Part of 2026 U.S. 250th Anniversary Events

President Donald Trump announced the Patriot Games, a four-day athletic competition for high school athletes, as part of the America 250 festivities marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The event will feature one young man and one young woman from each state and territory. It is open to U.S.

Citizens ages 14 to 16 who reside in a state, territory, or tribal nation and maintain good academic standing. Male and female athletes will compete in physical and mental challenges testing strength, speed, agility, teamwork, resilience, and leadership, with one male and one female champion crowned at the end.

The Patriot Games will run August 9 through August 11, 2026, with a televised finale on August 13.

Winners will receive $125,000 in scholarship funding, and all participants will get an all-expenses-paid trip for themselves and one chaperone. Applicants must submit a one- to two-minute video addressing leadership, character, personal values, and what being an American means to them. A 16-day fair opens today on the National Mall, running from June 25 through July 10, 2026, between the U.S.

Capitol and the Washington Monument. The free event includes a 110-foot Ferris wheel, a refurbished Smithsonian carousel, a rodeo, talent competitions, quilting bee championships, and exhibits on U.S. agriculture, industry, and cultural heritage.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an IndyCar race, is scheduled for August 22-23, 2026. Organizers expect the race to draw roughly 1 million visitors to Washington and generate as much as $200 million in economic activity.