Kennesaw, GA (February 5, 2026) — The City of Kennesaw will host the eighth annual Black History Bowl Championship on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Ben Robertson Community Center, bringing together middle school students from Cobb and Paulding counties for a day of competition, learning and celebration. The Black History Bowl is a fast-paced, educational competition in which teams answer questions covering Black history across science, the arts, education, sports, entertainment, civil rights, politics and more. Eight teams advanced to the championship finale after competing throughout the season.

What began eight years ago as an after-school bonding activity at the Kennesaw Teen Center has grown into a widely anticipated community event, with nearly 2,000 students participating since its inception. The program’s mission is to raise awareness and deepen understanding while honoring the vital role African Americans have played in the history of the United States.

“The Black History Bowl creates an engaging environment where students can learn, think critically and celebrate history together,” said Bill McNair, director of the City of Kennesaw Parks & Recreation Department. “Seeing this event grow from a small program into a regional competition speaks to the dedication of our students, staff and community partners.”

Championship Day activities include an opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. hosted by WSB’s Lori Wilson, a guest address by speaker Caden Harris, known as “The Rich Kid,” a gospel experience, hall of fame induction, Divine Nine step show, pool play from 10:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and the championship finale at 4 p.m. Moderators include Alex Whittler and Eric Perry of FOX 5, Jobina Fortson-Evans of CBS Atlanta, and Judge Kareem West of the Cobb County Juvenile Courts.

Additional activities throughout the day include a Divine Nine meet and greet, an exhibit from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights titled “The Media and the Civil Rights Movement,” the BHB ’26 GLAM Room, an art exhibit and artist meet and greet.

Community partners supporting this year’s event include Portillo’s, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Kaiser Permanente, Rotary Club of North Cobb, First Watch, Publix, Cobb County Community Schools, Cobb County Public Library, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Cobb National Pan-Hellenic Council and Julia Howard.