• 1 – 3 members; unlimited number of entries and no exam requirement
• Can compete in any online event as well as any event offered in-person at Regionals and/or Provincials
• These events are NOT run by Ontario DECA and will NOT be competing at Provincials; qualifiers for ICDC are determined solely by DECA Inc.  Notifications are emailed at the end of each round.
  • To register your teams for the DECA Stock Market Game, please  visit https://deca.smgww.org/#/ and go through the registration process.  During the process if you encounter any issues, please contact Carolyn Quest , SMG Coordinator with SIFMA decasmg@sifma.org or cquest@sifma.org
  • NEW THIS YEAR:    For the SMG written component, it will now be a pitch deck. Specifications for the pitch deck will be included in the DECA Guide. Maximum of 20 slides but it will NOT be required until ICDC.  
  • To register your teams for the DECA Virtual Business Challenges (VBCs), please visit Knowledge Matters and register.
  • To register your teams to participates in DECA INC’s Corporates challenges click here Corporate Challenges | DECA Inc.

• Can’t find your school or having issues, contact DECA Communications at communications@deca.org.
• To ask questions regarding participation, contact education@deca.org

• 10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to present
• Compete individually
• Business Administration Core exam                                                         Principle Events Guidelines

*  ALL of the Principles Events are reserved for 1st-year DECA members regardless of grade unless otherwise noted.
*  PMK reserved for Grade 9 students only.

• 10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to present
• Compete individually                                                                             Individual Events Guidelines

• 30 minutes to prepare, 15 minutes to present
• Compete in pairs                                                                             Team Events Guidelines

• 10 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to present
• Compete individually
• Financial Literacy exam                                                            Personal Financial Literacy Guidelines

• 1 – 3 participants per team                                                          Operations Research Events Guidelines 
• Maximum length of 20 pages and 15 minutes to present
• DLG Judge Pro online submission by January 9, 2026; maximum 30 MB upload as a PDF       

BUSINESS OPERATIONS RESEARCH EVENT

Participants collaborate with a local business or organization to research what drives customer loyalty and repeat engagement. Using the research findings, participants will develop a strategic plan to strengthen customer retention through loyalty programs, personalized experiences or relationship-building initiatives.

The Project Management Events require participants to use project management skills to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control and close a project.  Participants in the Project Management Events will:

• identify a problem
• develop a project management plan related to the problem
• implement the project using project management skills
• develop a written report and presentation on the project

The new event names are:

• • Business Solutions Project – PMBS
  • Career Development Project – PMCD
  • Community Awareness Project – PMCA
  • Community Giving Project – PMCG
  • Financial Literacy Project – PMFL
  • Sales Project – PMSP

• 1 – 3 participants per team                                                                           Project Management Event Guidelines
• Maximum length of 20 pages and 15 minutes to present
• DLG Judge Pro online submission by January 9, 2026 maximum 30 MB upload as a PDF
• Click here for resources made available through MBAResearch in partnership with Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF).

• 1 – 3 participants per team
• NEW THIS YEAR:    For current 10-page prepared events (Innovation Plan, Start Up Business Plan, Stock Market Game) the written component will now be a pitch deck. Specifications for the pitch deck will be included in the DECA Guide. 
• maximum of 20 slides
• Varying lengths and 15 minutes to present                 
• DLG Judge Pro online submission by January 9, 2026; maximum 30 MB upload as a PDF

• 1 – 3 participants per team                                                         Integrated Marketing Campaign Events Guidelines
• NEW THIS YEAR:    For current 10-page prepared events, the written component will now be a pitch deck. Specifications for the pitch deck will be included in the DECA Guide. 
• maximum of 20 slides
• 15 minutes to present
• DLG Judge Pro online submission by January 9, 2026; maximum 30 MB upload as a PDF
• Students will write an exam at Regionals level; the weighted average of the team exam score will determine if they move on to Provincials
• They do NOT compete at an in-person event at the Regional level; exam only
• Marketing Cluster Performance Indicators

• Each of these events are an individual event                   Professional Selling and Consulting Events Guidelines
• Maximum 15 minutes to present
• DLG Judge Pro online submission by January 9, 2026;  maximum 30 MB file uploaded as PDF
• Unlike the US guidelines, a report/research notes/powerpoint presentation slides must be submitted. A SIGNIFICANT amount of research must be provided in order to make it to the next round.  NO standardized guidelines are required so the student can include whatever they feel is relevant to be read by the Judge.
• Students will write an exam at Regionals level; the exam score will determine if you move on to Provincials
• They do NOT compete at an in-person event at the Regional level; exam only

2026-2027 SCENARIOS

Financial Consulting (FCE)

You will assume the role of a financial consultant meeting with a small-business owner in their late 50’s who is beginning to think about retirement and succession planning. The client wants to explore options for selling, transferring, or winding down their business while maximizing financial security.

Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling (HTPS)

You will assume the role of a sales representative for a company that designs immersive, experience-based group travel packages (culinary tours, cultural immersions, adventure itineraries). A local travel agency is looking to move away from traditional group bus tours and wants to modernize its offerings for younger travelers..

Professional Selling (PSE)

You will assume the role of a sales representative for a company that offers an integrated platform combining AI-powered customer service tools and retail analytics. A regional retail chain owner has scheduled a meeting to learn how your solution can reduce response times, lower staffing costs, optimize inventory, and improve the overall customer experience both in-store and online. Your goal is to explain how your platform can help the business operate more efficiently while increasing customer satisfaction and sales.