NATIONAL STEM FESTIVAL

U.S. Edition · Washington, DC · June 23 - 27, 2026

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SUBMIT
YOUR
PROJECT.

Round 1 – Written Submission
Submit a 3-page PDF summary of your project with a short application. Judges will evaluate your work based on the Festival rules.

Round 2 – Video Submission
Finalists record and submit a short video explaining their project and its potential impact.

National STEM Festival
The highest scoring project from each state and territory will become a National Champion and be invited to Washington, D.C. to share their project with industry leaders, officials, and the media. Champions will also get mentorship and networking opportunities with experts building the future workforce.

ELIGIBILITY.

Who Can Apply
Students in grades 7–12 from all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Number of entries
Each student may submit one individual project. Team submissions are not permitted.

Original work
Projects must be new and original for the 2026 Festival. Projects presented at previous Festivals cannot be resubmitted, even if updated or revised.

AI use
Students may use AI tools as part of their process (for research, analysis, design support, etc.), but the idea, direction, and final work must clearly reflect the student’s own thinking and authorship. Any AI assistance should be acknowledged in the submission.

Language
All submissions must be in English.

Other competitions
Projects that originated in school assignments, science fairs, after-school programs, or other competitions are welcome, as long as they meet the originality requirement above.

2026 THEMES.

Aerospace Innovation
Advance the future of flight and space exploration—from safer, more efficient aircraft to sustainable habitats for life beyond Earth.

Future Food
Reimagine food systems to ensure sustainability, equity, and security in the face of climate change and a growing global population.

Powering the Planet
Design new approaches to clean energy, storage, and efficiency that will power the world sustainably for generations to come.

Environmental Stewardship
Develop scalable solutions for conservation, climate resilience, and resource protection that safeguard both people and the planet.

Health & Medicine
Create innovations in devices, diagnostics, or treatments that expand access and improve health outcomes for underserved communities.

Tech for Good
Harness AI, robotics, and advanced technologies to solve real-world challenges and promote equity, access, and opportunity.