Think big and celebrate STEM skills
Once again, we’re inviting young people aged 11 to 18 to think big! Entries are now open for the UK’s top annual science, engineering and technology competition. There’s plenty of time to start a project – enter for free by 4 March 2026.
For students of all abilities, The Big Bang Competition is open to those in state-funded secondary education, who are home educated or who enter as part of a community group.
The Big Bang Competition is all about sparking creativity and encouraging young people to think like a scientist or engineer. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to develop future STEM skills –from problem solving and teamwork, to communication and critical thinking. Every young person who enters will receive invaluable feedback from real STEM professionals, giving them the chance to learn and grow their skills.
Top awards up for grabs include the UK Young Engineer of the Year, supported by Thales, UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens, and UK Young Scientist of the Year. Plus, our special awards are back – celebrating themes across the world of STEM. From healthcare to international collaboration and more!
What’s new for The Competition?
We’ve made a few exciting changes!
This year, students will also be asked to consider the wider impact of their ideas. As part of their project, young people will get to explore how their project might affect people, communities and the environment.
For example, students could think about how their idea can be used for good, and what could be done to make sure their project equally benefits everyone.
Our wonderful Big Bang Competition judges are as excited as ever to read and watch student project submissions. We can’t wait to see how young people across the UK consider the impact and effect of their ideas on their communities.
How to enter The Big Bang Competition
Students can enter either as individuals or as part of a team, and explore any STEM topic that sparks their curiosity and imagination. They can showcase their ideas in a variety of creative formats, from drawings and 3D models, to video submissions.
The Competition is completely free. Parents, carers and teachers can submit young people’s ideas online. The deadline to submit is 4 March 2026, so there’s lots of time to get started.
To support teachers and students, the free Big Bang Challenge resource offers step-by-step guidance to create and develop a STEM project. With several themes to choose from, the Big Bang Challenge covers topics from AI and robotics to extreme weather, air quality and more. Each resource helps to bring exciting STEM concepts to life in the classroom.
