Arkansas Boys State to welcome 580 students from 200 high schools

Arkansas Boys State will welcome 580 young men from 200 high schools across the state to its 85th summer session, held May 24-29, 2026, at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Sponsored by the American Legion, the weeklong leadership and civic engagement experience invites male high school juniors to learn how democracy works by building a mock government from the ground up.

Throughout the week, students will be assigned to political parties, cities and counties as they run for office, draft and debate legislation, solve municipal challenges and engage with constituents. Guided by the program's principle that "Democracy Depends on Me," delegates will also participate in leadership discussions, instructional tracks, recreation, keynote sessions and activities designed to strengthen communication, civic understanding and relationships with peers from across Arkansas.

Since 1940, Arkansas Boys State has shaped more than 60,000 alumni through what the program calls "a week that shapes a lifetime."