A new school year means new opportunities, and DECA’s 2026–2027 Guide is packed with exciting updates designed to help members develop real-world business skills, strengthen their leadership abilities, and prepare for success beyond high school. Centered around this year’s theme, “The NEXT BIG THING,” DECA encourages members to think beyond today’s possibilities and become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape tomorrow.

The NEXT BIG THING

This year’s theme challenges members to look toward the future. Whether it’s growing a chapter to record membership, creating an award-winning competitive event project, launching a new school initiative, or developing an entrepreneurial idea, DECA wants members to focus on creating meaningful impact rather than simply participating.

Important Program Updates

Several significant changes have been introduced for the 2026–2027 competitive season.

Prepared event presentations and written entries will now each account for 50% of the overall score, creating a more balanced evaluation. Career Competencies have replaced the previous 21st Century Skills framework, aligning DECA more closely with national career readiness standards. Team Decision Making events have been streamlined to include only five performance indicators, while new standardized presentation criteria and updated evaluation rubrics provide judges with clearer scoring expectations. Additionally, Adobe Express is now required in portions of several Chapter Campaign submissions, encouraging members to build stronger digital communication skills.

Corporate Challenges: One of DECA’s Most Exciting Opportunities

One of the highlights of this year’s guide is the expanded lineup of DECA Challenges. These challenges are created alongside major corporate and nonprofit partners, allowing members to solve authentic business problems while building their portfolios and competing for recognition at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

Unlike traditional competitive events, many challenges focus on creativity, digital media, marketing strategy, and innovation. They allow students to work on projects over several weeks or months, creating solutions that mirror the work completed by professionals in today’s business world.

Some of this year’s featured challenges include:

• Social Influence in the Real-World Challenge – Explore how persuasion and marketing influence consumer behavior through a creative advertising campaign.
• DECA at the Bell Challenge – Produce an original business-focused video episode centered around this year’s topic: Positioning.
• Hospitality Sustainability Innovation Challenge – Design a sustainability initiative that encourages hotel guests to participate in environmentally friendly practices.
• Social Impact Leader Challenge – Partner with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to develop an original fundraising and cause-marketing campaign that inspires action while showcasing business strategy.
• Procurement for the Public Good Challenge – Research and recommend purchasing solutions that improve efficiency and value for schools or community organizations.
• Future of Accounting Challenge – Create a marketing strategy that helps attract more students to accounting careers while promoting student engagement with the accounting profession.
• Insurance Pathways Innovation in Action Challenge – Develop a business plan for a next-generation insurance agency that appeals to Gen Z talent.
• Food Truck Challenge – Build an original food truck concept complete with branding, target market analysis, and marketing strategy.
• Personal Branding Challenge – Design your own professional brand, including a logo, résumé, and vision statement using Adobe Express.
• Digital Presentation Skills Challenge and Social Media Marketing Simternship™ – Develop practical presentation and digital marketing skills through simulations and interactive business scenarios.

These challenges provide students with valuable experience beyond traditional competition. Participants practice video production, branding, digital marketing, research, budgeting, strategic planning, and creative problem-solving while building projects that can strengthen college applications, resumes, and professional portfolios. Because many challenges involve nationally recognized companies and organizations, members also gain exposure to current industry trends and expectations.

For members looking to expand their DECA experience beyond role-plays and written events, these challenges offer an excellent opportunity to showcase creativity while solving authentic business problems.

Looking Ahead

From updated competitive events to expanded leadership opportunities and innovative corporate challenges, the 2026–2027 DECA Guide reinforces DECA’s mission of preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Whether members are competing, leading their chapter, participating in school-based enterprises, or tackling real-world business challenges, this year’s programs are designed to help students discover their “Next Big Thing” while developing skills that will benefit them long after graduation.

Check out the official guide here!: