The Stardust Challenge 2026: briefing and call for judges
Everything you need to enter the Stardust Challenge 2026, the eight categories, the deadlines, and how to enter on your own or with a team. We are also looking for judges. Public, free, no account needed.
The recording will be available here soon.
Who you'll hear from
Jason MichaudCEO
Shinul PaulCOO
Zain TawanaChief Impact & Partnership Officer
Shifa ZahraDirector of Space Biology & Strategic Partnerships
The Stardust Challenge 2026 closes for submissions on 5 October, and results are announced at Stardust 2026 on 2-3 November, held in Seattle and streamed worldwide. This session covers everything you need to take part.
FOR ANYONE THINKING OF ENTERING
- The eight categories, and how to choose between them
- What a strong entry actually looks like, and how it is scored: originality, rigour, impact, presentation
- The dates that matter, working back from 5 October
- How to enter on your own, with a team, or through a school - all three are open, and a free Stardust account is all you need
Two things worth saying plainly, because they have changed: you do not need a school to enter, and you do not need a team. A number of people registered months ago believing otherwise. If that was you, nothing is required except turning up.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR JUDGES
Eight categories are judged separately, because nobody is qualified to judge all eight. If you work in a space-related field - engineering, science, policy, education, media, sustainability - we would like to hear from you.
Judging is done online, in your own time, between 5 October and the finale. You read the entries in the categories you choose and score each one with a short written comment. The comment is the part that matters: every team sees the feedback on their own entry, including the teams that do not win. For a lot of young people this will be the first time somebody working in the field has read their work and taken it seriously.
You can put your name forward at stardustinc.ca/challenge/judges/ - it takes two minutes, and applying is not the same as being appointed.
HOW TO JOIN
Streamed to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, X and Instagram. No registration, no membership, nothing to pay. Questions are welcome throughout - bring them.
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