Applications for Trump’s Patriot Games, a national youth athletic competition celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, are now open, with high school students ages 14 to 17 from across the country eligible to apply for the event scheduled for August 9-11, 2026.
The 2026 Patriot Games will bring together one male and one female athlete from each state, territory, and tribal nation to compete in a series of athletic challenges designed to test strength, endurance, agility, teamwork, and perseverance, according to Freedom 250, the nonpartisan organization leading the celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
Prospective participants must submit basic eligibility information and a short video explaining why they want to compete, how sports have shaped who they are, and what the scholarship would mean to them. Athletes must be at least 14 years old by June 1, 2026, and no older than 17 as of December 31, 2026. Applications are being reviewed by the Freedom 250 2026 Patriot Games Selection Committee, with selected applicants advancing through additional screening and verification rounds before finalists are chosen.
Prize and Broadcast Details
The competition will award a $250,000 scholarship prize pool, with the two winning athletes—one male, one female—splitting the pool equally, according to Freedom 250. Winners will each receive $125,000 in scholarship funds.
All participants will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for themselves and one chaperone. The event will be streamed on the ESPN App, with a one-hour primetime special airing on ABC on August 13, giving the competition national television exposure.
The Patriot Games are part of a broader series of signature events celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the federal government has backed the initiative as a showcase for the next generation of American leaders and athletes.
Trump first announced the Patriot Games in December 2025, describing it as an “unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes.” The announcement drew comparisons to “The Hunger Games” fictional competition, with some critics noting the similarity of selecting one male and one female representative from each state or region to compete on a national stage.
Sources
- Freedom 250 — Announced the 2026 Patriot Games details, including application process, dates, scholarship prize pool, and broadcast information
- Forbes — Reported on the $250,000 scholarship prize pool, application requirements, and eligibility criteria for high school students ages 14-17
- HHS.gov — Confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership role in the Patriot Games initiative
