Information

2026 GSDSEF Schedule

In 2026 we will be at the Balboa Park Activity Center in Balboa Park, 2145 Park Blvd, San Diego.  

2025-26 Participation Process and Working on Project

August 2025 - January 2026: Work on Project, and go through SRC Review and Quality Screening

For details, go to: How to Participate

Scientific Review (Safety) Committee Review - Complete by December 31, 2025

2026 Quality Screening Deadlines: 

    January 20 – 6th and 7th grade digital project submissions due

    January 27 – 8th grade digital project submissions due

    February 11 – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade digital project submissions due

    February 17, NO EXCEPTIONS – All digital re-submissions due (if your initial screening result was "Needs Modifications")

2026 Applications (Tab 8), Payments, and zFairs*: 

    February 20, 11:59PM, NO EXCEPTIONS – all GSDSEF Applications and Payments are due 

    February 23 – Students receive initial login email from zFairs 

    February 23-27 – Students complete accounts in zFairs and upload digital Judging Slidedecks and Notebooks

    February 27, 11:59pm – Judging Digital Presentation and Notebooks must be uploaded to zFairs

    March 9-15 – Judges preview Digital Presentation information in zFairs

*What is zFairs?  We use zFairs to upload your digital project information – notebooks and Digital Presentations – so judges can preview your project in the weeks preceding the Fair.  zFairs is also used to assign judges to judging teams and teams to projects.  

GSDSEF dates for the 2026 Fair: March 16-22, 2026, at the Balboa Park Activity Center (BPAC)

Monday, March 16, 2026

10am-5pm – Fair Setup

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 

8am-1pm – Fair Setup

1-7pm – Student project setup at the BPAC-- Bring Backboard Displays and Notebooks!! Students--bring a chair! 

Wednesday, March 18, 2026: 

7:15-8:00am – Student dropoff at the BPAC   Students, bring a lunch!

8:00-11:30am – Category Awards Judging

10:00-11:30am – Special Awards Judging

11:30am-12:00pm – Student Lunch

12:00-2:00pm – Special Awards Judging 

12:30pm-3:00pm – Grand Awards Judging

3:00-3:30pm – Student pick up 

Thursday, March 19, 2026: 

BPAC Closed

6:00-8:30pm – Awards Ceremony (location TBD, San Diego)

Friday, March 20, 2026

BPAC closed to the public.  Open for student tours 10am-2pm. No reservation necessary. 

Saturday, March 21, 2026 

10am-1pm – BPAC open to public to view projects. 

1pm-3pm – Students may start to take pick up their projects

Sunday, March 22, 2026

10am-1pm – Project pickup 

1pm-6pm – BPAC Cleanup