Just Announced: Ignite by 4-H 2026 Will be March 25-29

We are thrilled to announce that Ignite by 4‑H 2026 will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 25–29 at the Washington Hilton. Ignite by 4‑H remains the premier experience where teens discover their spark, connect with peers from across the country (and even the world), explore traditional and emerging career paths, and develop career and life readiness skills to become Beyond Ready for the future. In 2026, Ignite will offer six exciting programmatic tracks, allowing teens to focus on their passions, deepen their skills, and explore meaningful career pathways. Returning for 2026 are four core tracks:

• AgriScience 

  
  

  Dive into the science behind agriculture and food systems—from biotechnology and soil science to sustainability and ag innovation.

• Community Accelerators 

  
  

  Learn how to drive change at the local level through social entrepreneurship, service learning, and community‑based problem‑solving.

• Healthy Living (featuring our 4‑H National Soccer Tournament subtrack) 

  
  

  Explore physical and mental wellness, nutrition, and healthy habits through interactive sessions—and build teamwork and sportsmanship skills through our returning Soccer Tournament.

• STEM 

  
  

  Experience innovation in action through hands‑on exploration of robotics, engineering, coding, space science, and more.

Based on feedback from 4‑H educators and teens, we're excited to introduce two NEW tracks that expand the possibilities for learning and leadership:

• Animal Science 

  
  

  This track is designed for teens who are passionate about animals, science, and their impact on food systems and communities. They'll be able to deep dive into topics such as veterinary science, meat production, ranching, livestock management, and equine science.

• Citizenship Washington Focus (Civic Engagement) 

  
  

  Our flagship civic leadership experience comes to Ignite! Teens will build their understanding of the democratic process, strengthen civic responsibility, and gain the skills to lead change through advocacy and policy—from the local level to the global stage. Please note that this track will start one day earlier with arrival on March 24.

With the growth of Ignite and these new additions, we need your help! Below are a few ways you can get involved:

Join the Ignite Design Team Are you a 4‑H educator or leader with expertise across multiple topic areas? Help us shape Ignite programming and planning. Apply by June 25 — selected applicants will be notified the second week of July.

Submit a Workshop Proposal We are accepting proposals across all six tracks and multiple topic areas! We encourage teens to apply with an adult mentor or with another teen to continue to build leadership and presentation skills. ✔ Accepted presenters will receive two free registrations (two teens or one teen/one adult). Travel not included. Deadline: July 17 at 5:00 PM ET Notifications: August 7

Scholarship Application Now Open! Need support to attend? Thanks to generous donors, a limited number of scholarships are available. Deadline: July 17 at 5:00 PM ET Recipients announced: August 7

And last but not least, mark your calendars for our on‑sale date. 🎉 Early Bird Registration Opens: July 17 🎉 Thanks to our supporters, we are able to apply a discount across all tickets. Please note: the CWF track will begin one day earlier, and registration costs will reflect the additional hotel night.

• Ignite Early Bird Rate (Teens/Adults): $1,200 / $1,650

• CWF at Ignite Early Bird Rate (Teens/Adults): $1,375 / $1,825

Early Bird ends September 15, with regular rates in effect until October 31. Full pricing and payment deadlines will be released with registration. We know this was a lot of information, and there is SO much more to come! Prepare by watching our Ignite 2025 sizzle reel and stay up to date by downloading our app. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to events@4‑h.org. For more information, join our webinar on June 11 at 3:00 PM ET. We can't wait to see you in D.C. for Ignite by 4‑H 2026 — where teens fuel their passion, build their purpose, and get Beyond Ready to shape the future.