Chengdu Welcomes Competitors: The 2026 ISEF Sichuan Science & Engineering Fair Announces Its Official On-Site Schedule
As the 2026 Regeneron ISEF Global Final approaches, ISEF-affiliated science fairs across the world are entering their most competitive phase. Students are racing against time for a chance to secure one of the limited qualification slots to the world’s most prestigious youth science competition.
At this critical moment, the 2026 ISEF Sichuan Science & Engineering Fair (Sichuan ISEF Fair)—the only ISEF-affiliated competition in Mainland China dedicated to students from foreign nationals’ schools—has officially announced its detailed on-site competition schedule. Outstanding finalists will earn direct qualification to the 2026 ISEF Global Final.
🌟 2026 Sichuan ISEF Fair: On-Site Competition Schedule
Dates: January 15–17, 2026
Venue: Mingyu Royal Hotel Chengdu East
📅 Thursday, January 15, 2026
- 4:00–5:50 PM – Registration for participants and accompanying adults
(Jinguang Hall) - 6:00 PM – Welcome Dinner
📅 Friday, January 16, 2026
- 7:30–8:45 AM – Exhibition hall opens; project setup and display
- 8:00–8:45 AM – Judges check-in
- 9:00–9:30 AM – Opening Ceremony (Tianfu Hall)
- 9:45–10:45 AM – Judging Sessions 1 & 2 (Jinguang Hall)
- 10:45–11:00 AM – Break
- 11:00 AM–12:00 PM – Judging Sessions 3 & 4 (Jinguang Hall)
- 12:00–12:50 PM – Lunch (Tianfu Hall)
- 1:00–2:30 PM – Judging Sessions 5, 6 & 7 (Jinguang Hall)
- 2:30–3:00 PM – Break
- 3:00–4:00 PM – Open Judging (Jinguang Hall)
📅 Saturday, January 17, 2026
- 9:00–10:00 AM – Final Judging (Jinguang Hall)
- 10:00–10:30 AM – Reserved Open Viewing (Jinguang Hall)
- 10:30–10:45 AM – Break
- 10:45–11:45 AM – Public Exhibition (Jinguang Hall)
- 12:00–12:40 PM – Lunch (Tianfu Hall)
- 1:20–1:50 PM – Closing Ceremony (Tianfu Hall)
📍 Key Location
- Welcome Dinner: HuiRi All-Day Dining Restaurant, 33rd Floor
- Registration, Project Exhibition, Judging & Public Viewing: Jinguang Hall, 2nd Floor
- Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Lunch: Tianfu Hall, 4th Floor
From school-level selection to the ISEF Global Final, the Sichuan ISEF Fair is more than a competition—it is a premier platform for young researchers to connect with the global scientific community and showcase their innovation potential.
If your goal is ISEF 2026, early planning and preparation are essential. This is an opportunity not to be missed.
About the ISEF Sichuan Science & Engineering Fair
The ISEF Sichuan Science & Engineering Fair (commonly known as the Sichuan ISEF Fair) is held annually and is exclusively open to students enrolled in foreign nationals’ schools in Mainland China. Participation is organized through schools.
Students in Grades 9–12 gain valuable experience in scientific research and academic presentation. Each year, over 100 students compete for a limited number of qualification spots to the ISEF Global Final. Awards granted by the Sichuan ISEF Fair are also widely recognized internationally.
Major Updates for the 2025–2026 Season
The 2025–2026 Sichuan ISEF Fair introduces two significant changes:
1. Increased Project Submission Quotas
In the 2024–2025 season, each school was allowed to submit up to three projects.
For the 2025–2026 season:
- Schools that won ISEF qualification awards or regional awards in the 2025 Sichuan ISEF Fair may submit up to four projects, regardless of how many awards they received.
- All other schools may continue to submit three projects.
2. Potential Increase in ISEF Qualification Slots
According to the latest evaluation guidelines:
- Five projects will qualify directly for the ISEF Global Final
- The number may increase to seven, pending final approval
- Two additional regional awards will also be granted
By comparison, the 2024–2025 season explicitly limited advancement to five projects only.
Under this policy, many schools will conduct internal school-level selection rounds, meaning students must begin project development earlier than ever.
2025–2026 Season Timeline
- Registration Period: October 10 – November 28, 2025
- Project Submission Deadline: January 3, 2026
- Judging Begins: January 9, 2026
- Defense & Award Ceremony: January 16–17, 2026
(Public viewing available on January 17)
Registration & Participation Rule
Students may compete individually or in teams of up to three members. The Sichuan ISEF Fair follows strict documentation and compliance rules. All official requirements are subject to the ISEF website.
ISEF Official Student Portal
https://student.societyforscience.org/
Before project work begins, schools must complete approval and research planning forms. Projects must be reviewed and approved by local SRC (Scientific Review Committee) and, if applicable, IRB (Institutional Review Board). Full documentation must be submitted for final SRC/IRB approval at the fair.
Project Evaluation Process
Each school must assign at least one adult supervisor to accompany students during the competition. Judging is conducted in two rounds, and judges may participate in one or both rounds. The greater the number of evaluations a project receives, the higher the reliability of its final ranking.
- First Round:
Judges focus on scientific methodology and general understanding. Deep subject specialization is not the primary criterion. Each project receives two evaluations. - Second Round:
Subject-specific judges conduct in-depth evaluations. Each project is reviewed by at least one specialized judge.
Why ISEF Matters for College Admissions
In recent admissions trends, high-impact extracurricular activities that demonstrate comprehensive student ability have gained increasing attention from top universities. As one of the most prestigious science competitions in the world, ISEF—often called the “World Cup of Youth Scientific Research”—offers applicants a powerful way to stand out to admissions officers at elite institutions.
