Sanketana

Competitions worth entering

Coding, AI and science competitions for school students. Dates checked 8 Oct 2026; tap a name for details.

CompetitionAge / gradeWho can enterKey dateCost
Open now · 5
IRIS National Fair
Science fair
Class 5–12 · India (Indian schools)
Closes 13 Oct
Congressional App Challenge
Build challenge
Middle & high school · US (by congressional district) · Free
Closes 26 Oct
Indian Computing Olympiad (ICO)
Olympiad
Up to Class 12 · India · ₹472
Closes 6 NovZIO exam: 21 Nov
USA AI Olympiad (USAAIO)
AI olympiad
K–12 · US & Canada
Closes 31 JanRound 1: 19 Feb
High school hackathons (Hack Club)
Hackathons
High school · Worldwide · Usually free
Year-round
Later in the year
The Diana Award
Award
Ages 16–24 · Worldwide
Usually October
Coolest Projects
Build challenge
Up to 18 · Worldwide · Free
Usually Jan–May
IB Global Youth Action Fund
Grant
Ages 12–19 · Worldwide
Usually January
USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
Olympiad
All levels · Worldwide, online · Free
Usually Jan–Mar
National Olympiad in Informatics (Singapore)
Olympiad
Secondary & JC · Singapore schools; SG citizens/PRs abroad
Usually February
Swift Student Challenge
Build challenge
13+ · Varies by country
Usually February
Technovation Girls
Build challenge
Girls 8–18 · Worldwide · Free
Season Aug–Apr

We list competitions where a student's own work is what gets judged, and leave out pay-to-enter programmes. Rules and dates change, so confirm on the organiser's site before entering.

Details

Each competition, briefly.

Science fair · India

IRIS National Fair

Dates
Project submissions close 13 Oct 2026.
Who can enter
Students in Classes 5–12 at a school in India, entering alone or as a pair.
What it suits
A data or AI project with a clear question, a method and results. The national fair is in November, and winners can go on to Regeneron ISEF.
Official site Back to the table
Build challenge · US

Congressional App Challenge

Dates
Register and submit by 26 Oct 2026.
Who can enter
Middle and high school students in the US, entering in the district where they live or study. Solo or teams of up to four.
What it suits
A finished app that solves a real problem, judged by people in the student's own district.
Cost
Free
Official site Back to the table
Olympiad · India

Indian Computing Olympiad (ICO)

Dates
Registration closes 6 Nov 2026. ZIO exam: 21 Nov 2026.
Who can enter
School students up to Class 12, sitting the first round (ZIO) at exam centres across India.
What it suits
Problem-solving depth rather than projects. Worth it for a student who enjoys puzzles and wants a benchmark.
Cost
₹472
Official site Back to the table
AI olympiad · US, Canada

USA AI Olympiad (USAAIO)

Dates
Registration closes 31 Jan 2027. Round 1: 19 Feb 2027.
Who can enter
K–12 students in the US and Canada.
What it suits
Tests machine learning knowledge directly. A good stretch for a student who has gone past using AI tools to building with models.
Official site Back to the table
Hackathons · Worldwide

High school hackathons (Hack Club)

Dates
Year-round.
Who can enter
High school students; in-person and online events across many countries.
What it suits
Building fast in a team over a weekend. Good practice, best paired with a longer project of their own.
Cost
Usually free
Official site Back to the table
Award · Worldwide

The Diana Award

Dates
Nominations usually open on 1 October and close at the end of October. The 2027 dates are not yet announced.
Who can enter
Ages 16–24 with at least 12 months of social action, nominated by an adult who knows them professionally.
What it suits
For a student whose project has served real people for a year or more, such as a tool a school or charity actually uses.
Official site Back to the table
Build challenge · Worldwide

Coolest Projects

Dates
The 2026 online showcase opened in January and closed on 27 May.
Who can enter
Young people up to 18, worldwide. Categories include Scratch, web, mobile apps and AI.
What it suits
A showcase rather than a contest, and the easiest first entry for any finished project.
Cost
Free
Official site Back to the table
Grant · Worldwide

IB Global Youth Action Fund

Dates
The 2026 window ran from 12 to 30 January.
Who can enter
Secondary students aged 12–19. An IB school is not required.
What it suits
Grants of up to USD 3,000 for a project that serves a community. Strong for a tool already in use.
Official site Back to the table
Olympiad · Worldwide

USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)

Dates
Last season's contests ran from January to March. The 2026–27 dates are not yet posted.
Who can enter
Open to students anywhere, online.
What it suits
Algorithmic contest practice, with levels from Bronze up. Rewards steady problem-solving more than projects.
Cost
Free
Official site Back to the table
Olympiad · Singapore

National Olympiad in Informatics (Singapore)

Dates
In 2026, registration closed on 14 February, with the final on 14 March.
Who can enter
Students at Singapore secondary schools and junior colleges, and Singapore citizens or PRs studying overseas.
What it suits
Singapore's route to the international olympiad. Contest practice, not projects.
Official site Back to the table
Build challenge · Worldwide

Swift Student Challenge

Dates
The 2026 deadline was 28 February.
Who can enter
Students who meet Apple's age and country rules; check eligibility for your country.
What it suits
A small, polished iOS app playground. Right for a student already building in Swift.
Official site Back to the table
Build challenge · Worldwide

Technovation Girls

Dates
Last season ran from August to April. The 2026–27 global season has not opened yet.
Who can enter
Girls aged 8–18, in teams of one to five; teammates can be in different countries.
What it suits
A season-long build: an app or AI project aimed at a real problem, with a pitch at the end.
Cost
Free
Official site Back to the table
Thinking of entering?

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