Enhancing Global Understanding
What is Academic WorldQuest
​Academic WorldQuest is a flagship program of the World Affairs Councils system. The game was invented by the
Charlotte Council and is now widely played at the adult and high school levels around the country. It is a team game
testing competitors’ knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, and culture. The World Affairs Council of America started the national competition in Washington, DC, in March 2003. Participants come from
high schools that work with the World Affairs Councils network. The 2026 Academic WorldQuest National
Competition takes place in Washington, DC from April 27 - 28, 2026.
2026 AWQ round topics are:
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Pop Culture and Soft Power in International Relations
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The FIFA World Cup
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Migration and Immigration
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The U.S. Constitution and Foreign Policy
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The Belt and Road Initiative
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Tariffs and Trade
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Coffee and Chocolate: A Global Perspective
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Nuclear Policy Issues
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Focus Country: Australia
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Current Events
In collaboration with the Academic WorldQuest Task Force, and in consultation with partners, this year’s topics contextualize world affairs for students, bringing history, culture, and concepts into today’s most pressing issues.
What to Know: The questions test their knowledge of current affairs, world leaders, geography, recent history, flags, international organizations, countries, regions, the world economy, culture, religion, and more.
Teamwork: Academic WorldQuest is a team game testing high school students' knowledge of international affairs. The competition is played between four-person teams who answer rounds of questions
projected by PowerPoint onto
a screen.
How to Succeed: A full competition is 100 questions, 10 rounds of 10 questions per round. The winning team is the team with the highest number of correct answers.
How Does AWQ Impact My Future?Academic WorldQuest offers numerous benefits, including preparing you for future international studies and careers in the global economy.
The opportunity to meet representatives from area companies and universities and hear about future international opportunities.
Who Participates: Over 3,000 students compete in AWQ contests organized by 40+ World Affairs Councils hosts in their states. The national competition is attended by 200-250 of the nation's most promising high school students each year, along with their parents, teachers, and chaperones.
For More Information: If you are a student or teacher and would like more information or to register a team, please
contact us today.​​​​​​
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