Future City Competition

This year's Theme (2026-27)

Design a Resilient Future city that can Prevent, Protect, and Recover from urban wildfires 

Full Theme Description

Timeline Requirements

September: Future City Teams kick off their projects 

• • Meet to develop a project plan to stay organized and on task (official rules)

    • sample project plans: example 1    example 2

October: Research, Design, Build

• • Teams describe the unique attributes of their city and their solution to the annual challenge (1,500-word max.)  

    • sample essays from previous years

  • Teams build a physical model of their city using recycled materials and include one moving part. 

    • sample movable parts

    • Top 5 Model examples

January: Presentations

• • Deliverables will be due by January 5

    • Final Checklists

  • Teams have seven minutes to present their city’s futuristic innovations. Teams then answer questions for a panel of STEM professionals. 

    • Tips for making the presentation

    • sample presentations: example 1     example 2     example 3