Competition guide · 02
Dates
& rounds
Every date of the 2027 season, and what happens in each round, from the screening to the Final in Minneapolis.
01The 2027 calendar
Feb 1–14
OnlineRegistrationUp next
Register online through the registration portal. Islamic Studies stays open until March 15.
Mar 24–30
VirtualScreening round
A short virtual check of memorization for the Memorization division. You book your time online before the round.
May 1–10
VirtualPreliminary round
Virtual sessions for Memorization and Islamic Studies, each booked online before the round, and video submissions for Best Voice nominees. The top competitors in each category advance.
Jul 3–11
Minneapolis, MNFinal round
Finalists book their time online, then compete in person in front of the judges, their families and the livestream.
Jul 11
Minneapolis, MNAwards ceremony
The season closes with the announcement of winners and the presentation of awards.
Late July to early August
Makkah & MadinahUmrah group tripTentative
The Umrah trip for winners follows the competition. Exact dates will be announced.
All dates are 2027. Dates may still be adjusted; any change is announced here and by email to registrants.
All times are Central Time (CT)
Minneapolis time. Eastern is one hour ahead, Mountain one hour behind and Pacific two hours behind. Competitors in other time zones, including international entrants, are responsible for converting session times; a missed session because of a time zone mix-up cannot be excused.
02Screening round
A short, pass or fail check of memorization for the Memorization division, held online over video call from March 24 to 30, mostly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Who takes it. Every Memorization competitor in every category, including 3 Juz and international 30 Juz entrants.
- The one exemption. If you competed in the same category in 2026 and qualified for the 2026 Final Round, you skip the screening. Participation or qualification in earlier years does not count, and moving to a different category means you take the screening.
- What the judge asks. A few short questions from different Ajzāʾ of your portion. The focus is memorization accuracy; tajwīd and voice matter less at this stage.
- The standard. Repeated corrections, or being unable to continue a passage, means the competitor does not advance.
- Booking. Before the round, you choose your session time online in the portal. We email you when booking opens.
03Preliminary round
Virtual sessions for Memorization and Islamic Studies from May 1 to 10, across two weekends. This is the round that decides who reaches the Final. Best Voice nominees submit a video instead of a live session, and Ten Qirāʾāt competitors go straight to the Final.
Book your session
Before the round, choose your time online in the portal. Every competitor joins from home by video call.
Recorded and livestreamed
Sessions are recorded and streamed on YouTube, so family and friends can watch.
Top competitors advance
Each category sends a set number of its highest scorers to the Final. See the finalist numbers on the categories page.
Results in about a week
Results are posted in the portal roughly one week after the round ends.
04Final Round
July 3 to 11 · In person
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Finalists recite before the judges, their families and the livestream. The venue and schedule are shared with finalists and posted here.
- Finalists book a session time in the portal once results are posted.
- Competitors traveling from outside Minnesota get priority for later time slots.
- The public is welcome to attend, and sessions are livestreamed.
- The season closes with the Awards Ceremony on July 11.
05Rounds by division
Memorization
ScreeningPreliminaryFinal
Three questions per round, four in 30 Juz, in the riwāyah of Ḥafṣ ʿan ʿĀṣim.
Ten Qirāʾāt
Final Round
No screening or preliminary round. Competitors go straight to the Final, with three questions, four in 30 Juz, across the ten qirāʾāt.
Best Voice
NominationVideo preliminaryFinal
Judges nominate Memorization competitors. Nominees submit a video recitation in the portal, and the judges choose the finalists, who recite on an evening of finals week.
Islamic Studies
Virtual testOral final
A virtual test in May, with questions in English and answers in English or Arabic, then an oral final on stage for the top 20.
International 30 Juz
ScreeningFinal
A virtual screening verifies memorization. Up to one male and one female per country join the 30 Juz finalists in Minneapolis.
06Withdrawals and no-shows
Seven days to withdraw
Finalists who cannot attend should withdraw in the portal within 7 days of the results, so the next highest scorer can take the place.
After that
A finalist who withdraws after the 7 days without medical documentation, or who does not attend, cannot compete the following year.
07After the Final
Awards Ceremony · July 11
Winners are announced and awards presented. Every finalist receives a certificate. See the awards
Umrah trip · late July to early August
The Umrah group trip for winners follows the competition. Exact dates will be announced, and families can contact us about joining the group.