About the Science Olympiad
Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to over 6,600 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. It promotes scientific inquiry, hands-on problem-solving, and collaboration through a diverse range of rigorous, standards-based challenges for middle and high school students at local, state, and national levels. Students develop practical skills and a strong foundation in STEM by competing in building events, lab experiments, and written tests, often working in pairs within a 15-student team. Become a member through your State Chapter to play.
2026 NEBRASKA STATE TOURNAMENT DETAILS
Tournament Date
Saturday April 18, 2026
Location
UNL - EAST CAMPUS
Lincoln, NE 68503 MAP
State Director
Event and Student Registration is OPEN
Go to: nesoinc.org
You should see these TWO tournaments for April 18th, 2026
NEBRASKA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD STATE TOURNAMENT 2026
- You can register up to 15 COMPETITIVE team members
- Each competititve student can be signed up for FOUR EVENTS
- You will not register your alternates for this tournament unless one of your competitve students is absent and your alternate is officially taking their place.
NEBRASKA TRIAL EVENTS AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT 2026
- Alternate students can ONLY be registered for for the Trial Events Tournament (when not moved to the competitive team due to an absence.) You may bring up to 5 alternates students.
- Competitive team students can ALSO be registered for this tournament.
- There is a MAXIMUM Limit of 12 students (since there are 6 Trial Events).
- Trial events do not count as part of a team’s score, but individual awards are given for trial events for each division for the top six scores.
If you do not see your school on the list, notifiy Dee Johansen immediately. Only teams that filled out the registration form or emailed me directly have been added. An email will do the trick now - no problem!
Registration will close on Thursday, April 16th at midnight. This allows us to print scoring sheets on Friday. You can still email me with changes on Friday if needed.
State Tournament Documents, Links, and Information
2026 Division B State Schedule
2026 Division C State Schedule
Documents for Coaches - Required Tournament Forms and More
Nebraska Science Olympiad Schedule 2026
Specific Information About Some of the Events
Event Information for all Events For Coaches
Staying Overnight? I have a few Hotel Blocks Reserved
- Embassy Suites Reservations - must book by April 4th. ($145)
- Fairfield Inn North($99)
2026 State Tournament Day
Team Check-In
- ALL Coaches need to check-in between 7:15 am and 8:15 am at the Student Union 3rd Floor to pick up the team folder.
- Because we will NOT have an opening ceremony at Hardin, we will not have any coach check-in at Hardin. Drop your students off that need to be there and head to the Student Union instead.
NO OPENING CEREMONY
- The Middle School Parade of Flags will be held at the closing ceremony. Create your banners, flags, and swag and choose two students to be in the parade. Have fun with this!
- A Coaches Meeting will be held in the Student Union - Great Plains Room at 8:20 am
- This meeting is OPTIONAL. Suggested for new coaches who have questions.
Tournament Day Reminders
- Cell phones, Apple Watches, AI glasses, and similar devices are not allowed at any Science Olympiad event. Please remind your students so they do not accidentally bring them and risk disqualification.
- Do remind them to bring eye protection and other required supplies for their own events.
- If you are bringing both divisions to the State Tournament, please bring a second adult supervisor (parent or teacher) to help.
- Finally, please remind your students that we are all guests at each host site. Please encourage your students to clean up after themselves and leave spaces as they found them.
Special Information about Events
Bungee Drop C in Nebraska has NEW RULES
- There will only be TWO DROPS from ONE HEIGHT. Follow the new rules below
- Heavy Mass Option for 2nd Drop is still available for bonus points if successful.
- Bonus Drop offered only if either of the first two drops HS is between 0 and 20 cm.
Engineering CAD C Information and Reinders
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Just a reminder that students in the Engineering CAD C event need to bring a laptop. Make sure they have charged it up.
- The Event Supervisor will need participant emails in advance to add them to the OnShape "Classroom" so they can access the test documents and assignments on competition day. These will be requested at the time you register students (if you have not sent them in already).
- Engineering CAD Event Student Guide - provided by Event Supervisor
Ping Pong Parachute Incentive
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Ping Pong Parachute will use the National Trial Event Rules this year. Be sure to follow them closely and get started on your FLIGHT LOG!
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Our Nebraska State Tournament Event Supervisor has a special incentive for you! Nerds Inc will give away one Model Z Launch Pad to the team with the best notebook/flight log as described in the national rules. (This is a $270.00 value!)
Trial Events
- Alternate students may only compete in the trial events at the state tournament. However, any competitive team member can compete in the trial events as well.
- Trial events do not count as part of a team’s score, but individual awards are given for trial events for each division.
- Nebraska Trial Event Rules Here
- HORIZONTAL BALLOON ROCKET RACE has been CANCELLED. We hope to see it return next year. We are running FAST FACTS in its place.
Event Information for all Events For Coaches - further information you may need to know about some events is provided in this spreadsheet.
Downtime Activities from 3:05 - 5:05
- Currently being determined. Check back soon! (Will be something new.)
- This will be optional
Awards Ceremonies
- The Middle School Parade of Flags will be held at the closing ceremony.
- Division B Awards Ceremony will be in the Student Union in the Great Plaines Room.
- Division C Awards Ceremony will be in the Hardin Hall Auditorium.
- Target Time is 5:10 pm.
National Science Olympiad 2026
- May 22-23, 2026
- University of Southern California (USC)
- The Division B and Division C Nebraska State Champions will be invited!
- National Science Olympiad Website
Next Year?
The 2027 Nebraska Science Oympiad State Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 24th at UNL EAST Campus.