COMAP's High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) and Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM) are international team contests in which students apply mathematics to model, develop, and communicate a solution to an open-ended problem. 2026 marks the 29th HiMCM and the 6th MidMCM. MidMCM is an extension of HiMCM for middle school/level students.
Who can take part:
All students in high school grades or below can take part in HiMCM. Students aged 14½ or younger on the start date can take part in MidMCM; for 2026, that means students born on or after May 1, 2012. A team with any member older than 14½ can compete in HiMCM only.
Teams have up to four students from the same school/institution or approved program, and each team needs a faculty advisor from that school or program. Advisors do not have to be from the mathematics department. Approved programs include dual-enrollment and magnet programs, online high schools, and community-based or nonprofit extracurricular programs. Tutoring, test-prep, contest-prep, and math- or STEM-learning centers do not qualify. Teams drawing students from several schools are allowed only when all members belong to the same approved program. There is no limit on the number of teams a school or program can register.
How the contest works:
HiMCM teams choose Problem A or B, and MidMCM teams choose Problem A, B, or C (Problem C is for MidMCM only). Teams may work on their problem at any time during the 14-day window. They may use any inanimate resource they find on their own, such as web pages, books, articles, and databases, but they may not get help from anyone outside the team, including their advisor. Teams may meet virtually and must cite all outside sources. Any use of large language models or other AI tools must be disclosed in a Report on Use of AI appended after the solution.
Solutions are up to 25 pages, typed in English in at least 12-point font, submitted as a PDF, and must not include the names of students, advisor, or school. Previous HiMCM problems include designing an aerial drone light show, ranking roller coasters, and placing warehouses for 1-day ground shipping.
2026 dates (EST):
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 2:00 p.m. | Advisor team registration closes |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. | Contest window opens |
| Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 8:00 p.m. | Contest window closes |
| Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 9:00 p.m. | Solution report deadline |
| On or before January 31, 2027 | Results posted |
Fee:
Registration is $100 per team, paid by credit card, and fees are non-refundable. COMAP asks advisors to register only the teams that will take part.
Awards:
Award levels are Successful Participant, Honorable Mention, Meritorious, Finalist, and Outstanding. Every team that submits a solution receives a PDF certificate of participation. With support from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the NCTM Award goes to two HiMCM Outstanding teams and one MidMCM Outstanding team. Select teams have portions of their papers published in COMAP's Consortium newsletter. U.S. HiMCM teams rated Meritorious or above, and U.S. MidMCM teams rated Finalist or above, are invited to the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM²C).
Official sources: