iGEM High School Competition 2026
A global synthetic biology competition where high school teams design, build and present a research-based biological engineering project. Open to secondary-school teams worldwide with appropriate adult supervision and institutional support. Rated Expert, with difficulty mainly coming from the long project cycle, laboratory requirements and multidisciplinary judging.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
16–18
School level
High school-level students enrolled at high schools or other secondary education institutions
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Team registration by Primary PI; Stage I registration/payment; Stage II finalization for judging/medals; roster freeze; final deliverables and Grand Jamboree participation.
Fee
Required iGEM team program fees in EUR. Stage I and Stage II program fees are required for competing; in-person teams also buy Jamboree tickets. Check official fee table for current amounts.
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
4 Jun 2026
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
30 Jul 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
Synthetic biology project competition. The 2026 High School Competition is for high-school-level teams. Primary PI must register; students cannot register the team themselves. As of 2026-07-22, regular registration appears past; the official calendar still lists Stage II finalization on 2026-07-30 and roster freeze on 2026-09-16, so this record needs manual review before presenting as open to new teams.