The International Brain Bee World Championship is the highest stage of the International Brain Bee, a global neuroscience competition for high-school students. Participants advance through a three-tier system that generally begins locally, continues nationally, and sends one national champion to the world event.
The 2026 championship is planned as a virtual event held alongside the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. Contestants are tested in neuroanatomy and neurohistology, a written examination, patient diagnosis, and live judging.
Benefits & funding
- Every competitor receives a Certificate of Accomplishment.
- First place receives USD 3,000 and a personalized plaque; second place receives USD 2,000; third place receives USD 1,000, and the top three also receive medals.
- The top neuroanatomy and neurohistology competitor receives USD 100 and a book featuring Santiago Ramón y Cajal’s work.
- These are performance prizes; the official pages do not state participant fee waivers, travel support, or other cost coverage for the virtual championship.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be high-school students and may not be older than 19 at the World Championship.
- A student must win the highest affiliated Brain Bee level in the country or region where they reside; independent entries are not accepted.
- A student living where no National Brain Bee exists may instead qualify by winning the IYNA Virtual Brain Bee.
- Students may enter only one Local Brain Bee and one National Brain Bee in a year and may not combine a national entry with the IYNA virtual route.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
High School
Age requirement
≤ 19 yrs
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Application process
- 1Use the participating-countries page to identify the affiliated National Brain Bee for your place of residence.
- 2Follow that chapter’s registration and qualification process; where no National Brain Bee exists, contact the IYNA Virtual Brain Bee.
- 3Win the highest eligible national or IYNA competition to qualify, because the World Championship does not accept independent registrations.
- 4Obtain the annually updated rules and study materials from the National Coordinator after qualification.
- 5Participate virtually from November 6 to 11, 2026; both dates remain tentative.
Program timeline
Country-specific
Local and national registration and competition dates vary by affiliated chapter.
World Championship starts virtually, tentatively.
Nov 6, 2026
World Championship ends, tentatively.
Nov 11, 2026