If you’re a Christian college student with a desire to combine your love for storytelling with your faith, NRB 2026 is your invitation to step into the real world of Christian media.
Held during the NRB 2026 International Christian Media Convention, iNRB (Intercollegiate National Religious Broadcasters) brings together students from NRB Educational Institution member schools for hands-on media challenges and meaningful connections with peers and professionals.
Whether you’re interested in film, digital storytelling, journalism, or social media, iNRB is where classroom learning meets hands-on experience.
Why Students Love iNRB
iNRB provides both a fun competition and a chance for a young professional to grow in their calling and build the necessary network to jump start their career.
“At [NRB 2025] I was able to challenge myself with the pressure of leading a cast and crew as director of a short film,” shared Nathan Barnes-Vélez, a student competitor. “At the end, I found that I enjoyed it and that I could do this as a career.”
Barnes-Vélez studied film & digital storytelling at Bob Jones University (BJU) and now works as a Multimedia Specialist at Children Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). He and his teammates Enoch Albert, Ace Cole, and Claire Gotcher won first place in the Film Challenge at the 2025 iNRB Challenges.
“NRB helped me get a taste of the incredible stress and constant deadlines, thus helping me get a real sense of what life as a filmmaker is like,” said Albert. “There are not many chances that almost every Christian communicator gathers in one location to meet people and tell them about what they are doing. It’s such a cool trip, to be able to compete in film and meet film people.”
About the iNRB 2026 Challenges
At NRB 2026, students will take on four timed challenges designed to stretch creativity, sharpen teamwork, and simulate the real pace of professional media production: the 12-Hour Audio Challenge, the 12-Hour News Challenge, the 12-Hour Social Media Challenge, and the 24-Hour Film Challenge.
iNRB exists to bring college students into the heart of the NRB Convention. While awards and recognition are part of the experience, the true value of the iNRB Challenges is hands-on learning. Students develop practical skills, collaborate under pressure, and gain firsthand exposure to the fast-moving demands of today’s media landscape.
College students enrolled at an NRB full member school are eligible to join with a no-cost student membership, valid for one academic year. Individual students from colleges, universities, or seminaries with Communications or Media programs are eligible for NRB membership as well.
All participating students also receive complimentary convention registration, including access to all convention sessions and the exhibit hall. This gives students the opportunity to network with Christian media leaders, explore emerging trends in broadcasting, and experience the world’s largest gathering of Christian communicators at no cost.
“[The NRB Challenges] gave me the confidence to realize that my input is valuable,” said Megan Winnberg, who won second place in the Film Challenge at NRB 2025 alongside her teammates Andrew Barnes, Ashley Lankford, and Jireh Volmar. “Nothing worth achieving is easy, and I think that’s what makes it so special: doing something hard with people you care about. Those memories have created strong bonds I praise God for and pray will never be broken.”
Registration Information
Student NRB members can register by Friday, January 30 with a $125 fee per team at this link. Student teams who sign up will automatically be registered for the NRB Convention at no additional cost. Faculty who are advising and who are attending must register for the convention separately at this link.
Note: Member students who are not participating on a challenge team can still register for the NRB Convention at no cost by contacting the registrar directly at registration@nrb.org.
What to Expect at NRB 2026
Register now and mark these key dates you won’t want to miss:
- iNRB Meet & Greet | Monday, February 16, 7:00– 9:00 p.m.
Kick off the week by connecting with fellow students and faculty.
- iNRB Challenge Kickoff | Tuesday, February 17, 8:30– 9:00 a.m.
Students gather to receive official details and prompts for the 12-hour and 24-hour Challenges.
- iNRB Awards Program | Wednesday, February 18, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Celebrate the creativity, teamwork, and excellence of student media as winners are announced and clips from the challenges are showcased. Following the convention, first-place team schools will receive an award engraved with the names of the winning team members.
- iNRB Standing Committee & Student Feedback | Thursday, February 19, 8:00–10:00 a.m.
Students and faculty are invited to share ideas and help shape the future of iNRB.
- iNRB Student Education Session | Thursday, February 19, 10:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
Explore how to integrate faith and media in a rapidly changing industry. This session addresses maintaining spiritual integrity, using your gifts to serve the Church, and navigating careers in film, journalism, music, social media, and digital ministry.
Ready to Step In?
NRB 2026 provides tools, training, community, and a glimpse into what God may be calling you to next. If you’re ready to create, collaborate, and grow alongside other Christian communicators, NRB is for you.
To learn more and get involved with the iNRB Challenges at NRB 2026, visit nrbconvention.org.
