International Geography Bee

Key facts

Eligible grades

Not confirmed. Check the organiser's rules before entering.

International Academic Competitions sets divisions by birth date, not grade. Not converted.

Official divisions

Divisions set by date of birth: Elementary, Middle School, Junior Varsity and Varsity, with windows shifting each academic year.

Based on the organiser's own divisions.

Eligible ages

Divisions are set by date of birth, not grade. As published for the 2025-26 cycle: Junior Varsity for students born September 2008 to August 2010, Middle School September 2010 to August 2012, and Elementary September 2012 or later, with Varsity above Junior Varsity. There is no lower age limit; the organisers state a capable 8-year-old is welcome.

Birth-date windows shift each academic year, so check the current cycle's dates. If a tournament offers no Elementary Division, eligible students may compete in Middle School. Where a Championships qualification carries over a year, students must compete in the division their birth date falls into for the current school year, not the one they qualified in.

Source, checked 2026-09-02

Individual or team

Individual · The Geography Bee is individual. A separate International Geography Bowl is a two-student team event where both students must attend the same school, and it requires no prior qualifying.

Where it runs

Online and in person · United States, International

Entry cost

A small qualifying exam fee plus championship registration and travelFees differ by region and this is the most confusing part of the programme. The Asian division describes the Online Regional Qualifying Exam as free for all students, while the Canadian division lists the Championships Qualifying Exam at $20 USD online or $20 USD / $25 CAD in person for 2025-26. Regional final and championship entry fees are separate. Check the fee schedule for your own region before entering.

Registration deadline

Set locally, not published as a single national date There is no single deadline. The Online Regional Qualifying Exam opens in September and stays open until May, but must be taken before the registration deadline of whichever regional final you want to enter. Those deadlines are typically about two weeks before each event.

Competition dates

Regional finals run through the school year in person and online. The International Geography Championships are biennial; the most recent was 5 to 12 July 2026 in Khao Lak, Thailand, and the next is summer 2028.

Difficulty

Some preparation neededYou will want a few weeks of targeted practice. Most motivated students place respectably.

Prizes

Trophies, medals and championship qualificationChampionship titles and qualification for higher rounds; no cash prize schedule was found.