Houstonfest

News and Updates

Contest promo video #1 (students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest promo video #2 (one student tells why she loves contest)

Contest promo video #3 (hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)

Important Dates

Mon., Jan. 12, 2026, 4:00 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund opens (if grants are approved for 2026); link will be sent to teachers.

Fri., Jan. 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Application for transportation grants from the Houston Saengerbund closes (if grants are approved for 2026).

Wed., Jan. 21, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for regular price of $15/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 1/28).

Wed., Jan. 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest registration spreadsheet due for late price of $20/student. Deadline to postmark Houstonfest payment.

Sat., Jan. 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual Houstonfest events due (get link to Google Form from your teacher).

Tue., Feb. 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual Houstonfest events ends.

Wed., Feb. 4, 2026, 10:00 p.m.: Houstonfest changes (adds, drops, substitutions) due. After this point, no more changes will be allowed.

Sat., Feb. 7, 2026: Houstonfest, Kingwood High School, Houston.

Fri., Feb. 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for "early bird" price of $15/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/21).

Wed., Feb. 18, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: State online registration due for regular price of $20/student (payment does not have to be mailed until 2/21).

Sat., Feb. 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m.: Submission of entries in the 7 virtual State events due (get the link to a Google Form from your teacher). Also, Mary El-Beheri Memorial Scholarship and Sandra Dieckman GTHS Memorial Scholarship applications due (to submit the application, get the link to a Google Form from your teacher). Deadline to postmark your State payment.

Mon., Feb. 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m.: Entries in State promotional video contest due to State director.

Tue., Feb. 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m.: Remote judging of the 7 virtual State events ends.

Sat., Feb. 28, 2026: Texas State German Contest, Texas State University, San Marcos.

Sat., Mar. 7, 2026, 11:59 p.m.: Houstonfest Scholarship applications due.

xxx., Mar. xx, 2026: Gail Cope State Scholarship applications due.

between Sat., Mar. 1 and Thu., Apr. 30, 2026: submit Gail Cope Teacher Grant applications.

Houstonfest

Founded in 1980, Houstonfest is an annual competition for Houston-area students in grades 8 through 12 (and some in grade 7) who are learning German. It offers 42 contests for students in German I, II, III, IV, and V, including written and oral tests, declamation, drama, art, and music. Because some contests have multiple levels, there are actually 88 different competitions! These include some competitions exclusively for "advantaged speakers" and some that are conducted virtually through online submission. Registration is accepted only from German teachers registering their participating students as a group; we do not accept registration from individual students.

Totally new to contest? We know that it's a lot to take in. A good introduction to this sprawling enterprise is this new two-page overview of the contest system.

Incentives for schools new to Houstonfest

We had 612 students from 18 schools registered for Houstonfest 2025 (an increase of 130 students from 2024) along with over 150 teachers and adult volunteers!

Teachers and others from the local German-speaking community serve as judges. If you are interested in serving as a judge, contact director Rustin Buck by email and he'll send you a link to a Google Form to sign up.

Entrants placing in the top five in each event at Houstonfest, traditionally held on the first Saturday of February, which in 2026 will be February 7, advance to the Texas State German Contest, traditionally held on the last Saturday of February, which in 2026 will be February 28. At State, Houstonfest's winners compete against the winners of the other two Texas regional German competitions, Winterfest for the Dallas and North Texas area and Sprachfest for the Central and South Texas area.

Houstonfest is held at Kingwood High School and State at Texas State University in San Marcos.

After competition is over and while everyone is waiting for the awards to be tabulated, we usually have entertainment by the band Das ist lustig and local professional German folk dancers Das ist keine Kunst and Tanzenfest. The Tomball German Festival also traditionally invites winning Folk Dance and Polka Band groups as well as Vocal Soloists to perform at their festival each year and makes donations to the German Clubs of all schools that perform.

For more information:

Overview of Texas German contest system

Contest Promo Video #1

(students from one school tell why they love contest)

Contest Promo Video #2

(one student tells why she loves contest)

Contest Promo Video #3

(hilarious 2024 State-winning submission from our own Klein Oak High School!)

Show your love for the Texas German contest system by producing a promotional video and entering our contest (videos #1 and #3 above are past winners). You could win $250! Click here for the contest guidelines.