As the school year comes to an end, the countdown for the next competitive season begins. With exams and classes finally finished, this summer becomes a great opportunity to get ahead of the game and prepare for the 2026 – 2027 DECA year. Here are three strategic steps you can take this summer to strengthen your competitive edge.

Choose Your Event

Summer break serves as a great opportunity to evaluate your performance from the past DECA season. Ask yourself questions such as “Did I enjoy competing in my event?” or “Did the format of this competition align with my strengths?”. These questions help evaluate if you should continue with the event you previously competed in. By choosing your event early, you have a head start in understanding what clusters and topics to prepare for. More importantly, if you were a first year member that participated in a Principles event, consider looking into a new event as you cannot compete in the Principles category as a 2nd year member. If you are choosing a new event, ask others in your chapter that previously competed in that category or search up sample roleplays and papers via the DECA website.

Read DECA’s Newest Competitive Event Information

To kickstart the 2026 – 2027 DECA season, DECA Direct has already posted new event topics and updates. If you are interested in competing in Business Operations, Financial Consulting, or Professional Selling events, consider reading through the new topics so your project can align with the right theme. Additionally, on July 1st, DECA will release the official DECA Guide, which will include corporate challenge information, full competitive event updates, and more information to assist you in the upcoming school year. Reading these briefs are a great way to understand any changes DECA makes with the competition.

Take Practice Tests

If you are competing in a roleplay, Integrated Marketing, or Professional Selling event, remember that the presentation is only half of the battle. Often, a strong test score is what separates glass winners, so the summer is a great time to improve your exam performance. By taking practice tests and reviewing unfamiliar terms a few times a week, you can build the foundation that will put you ahead of competition in the next school year. If your school has a DECA+ subscription, consider using the practice exams there or search up key term Quizlets.

Take advantage of this summer and get ahead with your competitive preparation so you can be the Next Big Thing in the 2026 – 2027 DECA year!