On behalf of the Yale Classics Department, it is my distinct pleasure to invite you to the 16th Annual Yale Certamen, which will be held in person on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
The tournament will again feature Yale’s “two-bracket” system in all levels, allowing everyone—age, skill, and experience notwithstanding—to enjoy the competition. More information about the system can be foundhere.
For information on topics and content limits, we ask you to please read through our syllabus for a thorough explanation and resources for students.
Players of all experience will also benefit from Mr. Michael Howard’sCertamen Starter Kit, which features among several aids on theStudy Materials page, as well as the videos of 2020 Finals, availablehere, and our archive of past questions.
All other information about preparation and the tournament, including how toregister and submit registration forms, may also be found on this website. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the general staff of Yale Certamen at yale.certamen@gmail.com.
We would like to extend our deep gratitude to the volunteer writers who have generously devoted their time to producing questions for this tournament, and to the editors who give this tournament its distinctive polish. Thank you, also, to the many moderators who volunteer their time, without whom the Certamen would not be possible.
We hope to see you in November!
Curate ut valeatis,
Yale Undergraduate Certamen Committee Sophie Heitfield (‘28), Louis Dearman (‘28), Rachel Jacquay (‘27) Yale College
