2026 Important Dates & Deadlines
Fair begins on February 25 with the opening of the project upload portal and ends on March 14 with the awards ceremony.
The 2026 CT Science and Engineering Fair will be virtual for preliminary judging and in-person for finalist judging.
Week 1: March 5 & 6, Preliminary Judging
Week 2: March 11, Finalist Interviews and March 14, Awards at Quinnipiac University
See below for yearlong schedule with dates and times for fair weeks.
August 24, 2025
–Project/student registration opens.
–School registration opens.
October 15, 2025
–Deadline to seek approval from registration chair for independent student status.
October 31, 2025
–School registration closes at 11:59 pm.
–Approval and registration fee deadline for independent student projects.
November 15, 2025
–Registration is due for ALL independent student projects .
December 1, 2025
–All high school registrations close at 11:59 pm.
–All non-EZ path student projects middle school and high school are due by 11:59 pm.
January 15, 2026
–Abstract submissions open.
–Submit your abstract here.
February 15, 2026
–All middle school project/student registrations are due by 11:59 pm.
–High school projects selected by school fairs are due by 11:59 pm.
February 25, 2026 – Project Portal Opens for project uploads. Submit your project here.
March 1, 2026
–Last day to submit abstracts. Uploads close at 11:59 pm. Submit your abstract here.
–Project Portal Closes for Project Uploads at 11:59 pm. Upload your project here.
Fair Week 1
Tuesday, March 5, 2026 – Virtual Life Science Preliminary Judging, 9 am – 1:30 pm
Wednesday, March 6, 2026 – Virtual Physical Science Preliminary Judging, 9 am – 1:30 pm
Friday, March 7, 2026 – Finalist list posted on website by 5 pm. When you confirm your finalist status, you will receive instructions on arrival and setup procedures.
Fair Week 2
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 – Finalist judging (in-person) at Quinnipiac University, 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
Thursday, March 12, 2026 – List of Special Award Winners posted to website by 10 pm
Saturday, March 14, 2026 – Awards Ceremony (in-person)
In-person Middle School Finalists Awards Ceremony, 9 am – 10 am
In-person Special Awards Ceremony, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
In-person High School Finalists Awards Ceremony, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Project Registration Questions
Registration Chair: registrationhs@ctsciencefair.org
Fair Director: director@ctsciencefair.org