60 DECA events. Find yours.
DECA competitive events for 2026-27, each with its own prep page: what is on the exam or what the judges score, study resources, and a link to DECA's official guidelines. The 34 with a written exam have free practice exams.
Entrepreneurship Series
One 100-question Entrepreneurship exam plus two preliminary role-plays about recognizing opportunities and acting on them. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about marketing and management in hotels, lodging, convention services and food and beverage operations, and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Marketing Communications Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing communications work that informs, persuades or reminds a target market about ideas, experiences, goods or services. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Personal Financial Literacy
A 100-question personal finance exam plus one role-play on earning, spending, saving, investing, credit or risk. Built for students taking a personal finance course; the role-play counts twice the exam.
Principles of Finance
A first-year DECA event: one 100-question Business Administration Core exam plus a single role-play built around careers in accounting, banking services, business finance, insurance and securities, and investments. The role-play counts twice as much as the exam.
Principles of Marketing
A first-year DECA event: one 100-question Business Administration Core exam plus a single role-play built around careers in marketing communications, marketing management, marketing research, merchandising and professional selling. The role-play counts twice as much as the exam.
Accounting Applications Series
One 100-question Finance exam plus two preliminary role-plays about applying financial data to business planning. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks in retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses that sell clothing and related accessories. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Automotive Services Marketing Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks for auto dealers, service stations, related businesses and auto parts stores. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Business Finance Series
One 100-question Finance exam plus two preliminary role-plays about high-level financial and business planning. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Business Growth Plan
For students who already own and run a business: write a plan of up to 20 pages to grow it and pitch it to a judge playing a source of capital in 15 minutes. Proof of ownership is required. No exam.
Business Law and Ethics Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Business Management and Administration exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about U.S. business law and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Business Services Marketing Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing for businesses that sell services to other businesses on a fee or contract basis, or services to consumers. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Business Services Operations Research
Research a real local business and write a strategic plan of up to 20 pages, then pitch it as a hired consultant in 15 minutes. No exam. The 2026-27 topic is customer loyalty and repeat engagement.
Business Solutions Project
Plan and actually run a project to work with a local business or organization to find a specific problem in its current operations and put a solution in place, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Buying and Merchandising Operations Research
Research a real local business and write a strategic plan of up to 20 pages, then pitch it as a hired consultant in 15 minutes. No exam. The 2026-27 topic is customer loyalty and repeat engagement.
Buying and Merchandising Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Marketing exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about buying and merchandising (forecasting, planning, buying, displaying, selling and customer service) and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Career Development Project
Plan and actually run a project to promote and teach the knowledge and skills needed for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Community Awareness Project
Plan and actually run a project to raise awareness of a community issue or cause, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Community Giving Project
Plan and actually run a project to raise funds or collect donations for a cause or charity, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Entrepreneurship exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about recognizing and acting on opportunities and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Finance Operations Research
Research a real local business and write a strategic plan of up to 20 pages, then pitch it as a hired consultant in 15 minutes. No exam. The 2026-27 topic is customer loyalty and repeat engagement.
Financial Consulting
Take the 100-question Finance exam, then deliver a prepared 15-minute consultation to a judge playing the client. For 2026-27 you are a financial consultant meeting a small-business owner in their late 50s who is starting to think about retirement and succession.
Financial Literacy Project
Plan and actually run a project to promote the importance of financial literacy, covering spending and saving, credit and debt, employment and income, investing, risk and insurance, and financial decision making, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Financial Services Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Finance exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about the services financial institutions offer and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Food Marketing Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks in retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses whose work ends in the sale of food. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Franchise Business Plan
Write a plan of up to 20 pages for buying into an existing franchise and pitch it as a prospective franchisee to a judge playing a source of capital in 15 minutes. No exam.
Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research
Research a real local business and write a strategic plan of up to 20 pages, then pitch it as a hired consultant in 15 minutes. No exam. The 2026-27 topic is customer loyalty and repeat engagement.
Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling
Take the 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam, then deliver a prepared 15-minute sales presentation to a judge playing the client. For 2026-27 you are a sales representative for a tour wholesaler that designs immersive, experience-based group travel packages, pitching to a local travel agency that wants to modernize its group tours for younger travelers.
Hotel and Lodging Management Series
One 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks in hotels, motels, lodging services, convention services and food and beverage services. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Human Resources Management Series
One 100-question Business Management and Administration exam plus two preliminary role-plays about management tasks in staffing, recruitment, selection, training, performance appraisal, compensation and safety training. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Independent Business Plan
Write a full plan of up to 20 pages for a new business of any type and ask a judge playing a bank or venture capital official for financing in a 15-minute presentation. No exam.
Innovation Plan
Pitch a new business, product or service idea with a concept deck of up to 20 slides and a 15-minute presentation to a judge playing a venture capitalist. No written report and no exam.
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event
Act as an agency account team: build a marketing campaign of up to 45 days for a real sports, entertainment or company event in a deck of up to 20 slides, take the 100-question Marketing exam, and pitch the campaign to a judge playing the client in 15 minutes.
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Product
Act as an agency account team: build a marketing campaign of up to 45 days for a real hard-line or soft-line retail product in a deck of up to 20 slides, take the 100-question Marketing exam, and pitch the campaign to a judge playing the client in 15 minutes.
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service
Act as an agency account team: build a marketing campaign of up to 45 days for a real service or intangible product in a deck of up to 20 slides, take the 100-question Marketing exam, and pitch the campaign to a judge playing the client in 15 minutes.
International Business Plan
Write a plan of up to 20 pages for a new venture in another country, including an analysis of that country's economy, government, laws and culture, then present it to a judge playing a business executive in 15 minutes. No exam.
Marketing Management Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Marketing exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about marketing and management functions that apply broadly in a non-retail marketing setting and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Principles of Business Management and Administration
A first-year DECA event: one 100-question Business Administration Core exam plus a single role-play built around careers in administrative services, business information management, general management, human resources management and operations management. The role-play counts twice as much as the exam.
Principles of Entrepreneurship
A first-year DECA event: one 100-question Business Administration Core exam plus a single role-play built around ideas that matter to entrepreneurs and small-business owners. The role-play counts twice as much as the exam.
Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
A first-year DECA event: one 100-question Business Administration Core exam plus a single role-play built around careers in hotels, restaurants, and travel and tourism. The role-play counts twice as much as the exam.
Professional Selling
Take the 100-question Marketing exam, then deliver a prepared 15-minute sales presentation to a judge playing the client. For 2026-27 you are a sales representative for a company whose platform combines AI-powered customer service tools with retail analytics.
Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series
One 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks in the quick-serve restaurant industry. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Restaurant and Food Service Management Series
One 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks in a full-service restaurant or food-service business. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Retail Merchandising Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks that apply in any retail store. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Sales Project
Plan and actually run a project to raise funds for your own DECA chapter, then document it in a written entry of up to 20 pages and present it as the project managers in 15 minutes. No exam.
Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research
Research a real local business and write a strategic plan of up to 20 pages, then pitch it as a hired consultant in 15 minutes. No exam. The 2026-27 topic is customer loyalty and repeat engagement.
Sports and Entertainment Marketing Series
One 100-question Marketing exam plus two preliminary role-plays about marketing and management tasks for sports, sporting events, entertainment, recreational equipment and leisure businesses. Exam and each role-play count one third each; finalists get a third role-play.
Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Marketing exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about sports and entertainment marketing and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Start-Up Business Plan
Pitch a plan to form a new business using a deck of up to 20 slides and a 15-minute presentation to a judge playing a potential investor. No written report and no exam.
Stock Market Game
Manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio of stocks, mutual funds and bonds against other DECA teams from September 8 to December 4, 2026. Top teams per region qualify for ICDC, where they present a pitch deck of up to 20 slides in 15 minutes. No exam.
Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making
A two-person team event: each partner takes the 100-question Hospitality and Tourism exam, then the team gets 30 minutes to crack a case study about marketing and management in passenger transportation, travel services and tourism, and 15 minutes to present it to a judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Accounting
A web-based business simulation (Accounting track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Entrepreneurship
A web-based business simulation (Entrepreneurship track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Fashion
A web-based business simulation (Fashion track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Hotel Management
A web-based business simulation (Hotel Management track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Personal Finance
A web-based business simulation (Personal Finance track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Restaurant
A web-based business simulation (Restaurant track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Retail
A web-based business simulation (Retail track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.
Virtual Business Challenge-Sports
A web-based business simulation (Sports track) played in two online qualifying rounds, October 13 to 23, 2026 and January 12 to 22, 2027. The top two teams per region per round qualify for live simulation sessions at ICDC. No exam, no judge.