📣 What’s New for Merit Badges in 2026?
Big updates are here! Several Scouts BSA merit badges have updated requirements, and there are a couple of exciting additions Scouts will want to check out.
✨ What’s new or changed:
🆕 Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity merit badges have been added
✏️ American Indian Culture (formerly Indian Lore) has a new name
🔄 Many existing merit badges have updated or renumbered requirements—including areas like Emergency Preparedness, Personal Fitness, Swimming, Robotics, and more
If your Scout is working on merit badges now or planning ahead, it’s important to review the current requirements before starting or finishing a badge.
👉 Don’t forget to check them out here:
https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/
Staying up to date helps Scouts stay on track and get the most out of their advancement journey. ⛺🎯