Monday, March 9, 2026, anytime between 12:30 and 6:30 PM. Come early to avoid crowds. We recommend all attendees wear a mask but it is not required.
Parking and Student Drop Off
South Hall (435 S Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113) runs along side Viola Street and is next to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.
Parking may be tight in the convention center area. There is no free parking at South Hall. Please visit our Student Drop-Off and Parking Information page and Parking Map.
Students and projects may be dropped off at the STUDENT DROP OFF sign on Viola St. No waiting is allowed. Parents or teachers who want to enter the Exhibit Hall must park in a nearby public lot and meet the student at the Information Desk inside. For pickup, parents can contact students by cell to meet at the same curbside location.
Checking In
If your parent, another parent, or a teacher is checking in your project, they will follow Steps 1-3. The only exception is Group Check-In for middle school teachers who bring 5 or more projects.
- Once inside South Hall pick up your badge, which you will also need on judging day.
- At the registration desk, your project display will be checked for compliance. Registration will be much smoother and FASTER if each project has all the forms on the Printed Materials Needed for Fair Check-In Day (see below). For team projects, when picking up badges, the teammate whose last name comes first alphabetically will be listed first.
- At the entrance to the project display area, pick up your project placard, and a volunteer will help you find your location on the display tables at South Hall. When you’re ready to leave, take home anything of value, especially a computer or tablet.
Group Check-In for Middle School
Teachers who have registered for Group Check-In for Middle School (more than 5 projects to bring in without student help), will have parking available on a first come/first served basis in the South Hall lot if space is available. The parking attendants have a list of Group Check-In teachers.
Printed Materials Needed for Check-In Day (Student or Designated Adult)
- Your Project Board and Project Notebook (hard copy, printed, or digital)
- Engineering project or laptop if needed. (see Project Display Rules)
- Project Abstract (1 copy, additional copies can be left at your Project Display) (download template from Additional Forms page)
- Compliance Checklist (see Project Status for the project code)
- The Abstract and Compliance Checklist must be taped to the desk in front of the display board and become property of the student when the fair closes at 6 PM on Day 2.
- Form 1B (printed copies from your application)
- Form 3 Risk Assessment (if your project requires it)
- Signed Ethics Statement
- Signed Assistance Disclosure Form
What Else to Bring
- Does your project have human participants? Bring Form 4 and all the completed Human Informed Consent Forms (one form signed by each human participant).
- Is your project a continuation from last year? Bring a completed Form 7 to tape to the table in front of your display board.
- Was your project done at a Registered Research Institution? Bring 1 copy of Form 1C to tape to the table with your project board in front of your display board.
- Did your project involve microorganisms, rDNA, tissue, blood, or body fluids? Bring Form 6A.
- Did your project involve tissue, blood, or body fluids? Bring Form 6B.
NOT REQUIRED:
- Forms 1, 1A, 2, 5A, 5B and Research Plan
Prepare for Championship Judging Day
There is a page for Judging Day and a printable guide: What to Expect at the Fair
