UK Edition 2027 · London

Get a head start.

Everything you need to get a head start is right here — eligibility, how to enter, and what to prepare. Pre-register and we'll remind you the moment applications open on September 16, 2026.

Ages 13–19 · Pre-University · UK-Wide · London, May 5–10, 2027

Pre-register ↓ Eligibility How to enter

What you win

Win a seat at the Festival.

Up to 40 National STEM Champions win a trip to the Festival in London — the stage, the people, and the experiences that can change what comes next.

A 5-night / 6-day trip to London for you and a parent or guardian
Travel & hotel arranged by EXPLR — worth up to £2,000
Present your project and meet scientists, engineers & industry leaders
Exclusive Festival experiences — plus Special Awards

Approximate retail value up to £2,000 per Champion prize. Actual value may vary with the Champion's location and travel arrangements, and no difference in value is paid.

Leave this field empty

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Date of birth *

You must be at least 13 to register.

Town / city *

Region *

Which Festival pillar best fits your project? *

Don't worry — you can change this when you submit your application.

Building & Infrastructure Designing and building stronger, smarter communities. Engineering · architecture · construction · transport · materials · skilled trades · resilient cities Health & Human Potential Improving health, care and quality of life. Medicine · biotechnology · biomedical engineering · prevention · diagnostics · assistive technology · care Technology, AI & Digital Futures Creating smarter, safer and more responsible technology. AI · computing · cybersecurity · robotics · data · digital systems · emerging technology Food, Planet & Sustainability Rethinking how we grow, make and sustain our world. Food · agriculture · climate · energy · water · environment · conservation · circular economy

How did you hear about us?

Please add nationalstemfestival@explr-media.com to your address book to ensure delivery.

You're in — nice head start! We'll remind you when UK applications open on September 16, 2026. Please add nationalstemfestival@explr-media.com to your address book to ensure delivery.

Sorry — you must be at least 13 years old to register, so we're unable to accept this registration.

Something went wrong. Please try again, or email us directly.

Eligibility

Who can enter

Ages 13–19 · Pre-University · Individual Projects · UK-Wide

Aged 13–19 at the application deadline.
Pre-university — not yet started an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
Live or study in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Enter an individual project — one student per project; teams aren't eligible.
Submit your own work — mentors, teachers and parents may guide, but you're the primary creator.

School enrolment isn't required — secondary school, sixth-form or FE college, technical programmes, apprenticeships and home-educated students are all welcome.

How to enter

One application. Two stages.

You apply once — finalists are simply invited to add a video. All initial applications are judged blind.

Stage 1 · Written

Written application

Submit a 3-page PDF project summary and a short application. Judged blind against the Festival criteria — up to 12 finalists advance per region.

Stage 2 · Video

Finalist video

Regional finalists submit a short video on what they built, why it matters, their approach, and its potential impact. Written work and video are reviewed together.

Outcome

National Champions

Up to 3 Champions from each of the 12 UK regions (max 36), plus up to 4 Special Award Champions — up to 40 in total. Champions score an average of at least 65/100 and win a funded trip to London for themselves and a parent or guardian.