What to Expect at TSA Nationals 2026

For students who have never attended a national TSA conference before, the scale of the event can be surprising. The TSA National Conference draws more than 6,000 student competitors from chapters across all 50 states — making it one of the largest STEM competition events in the country. Washington, D.C. is hosting in 2026, which means Paul International students are competing on home ground.

How the Competition Works

The national conference runs over five to six days and is organized around competitive events — ranging from individual challenges like Coding and Technical Writing to team events like Video Game Design, Webmaster, Engineering Design, and Robotics. To compete at nationals, students must first qualify at their state conference, earning one of the limited advancement spots in their event.

Each event has its own schedule, judging criteria, and format. Some require live presentations in front of a panel of industry judges. Others are scored on a submitted portfolio or a time-based on-site challenge. Students competing in multiple events may have overlapping schedules, which requires careful planning and strong time management.

The Conference Experience

Beyond competition, the conference includes leadership workshops, networking sessions, a national officer election, and an awards ceremony where top finishers in every event are recognized. For many students, the conference is the first time they interact with peers from across the country who share the same technical interests — an experience that often shapes their thinking about college, careers, and the STEM community.

The opening and closing ceremonies draw the full attendee body and serve as anchors for the week. Chapter delegations march in together during the opening — a tradition that reinforces the sense of representing your school and state on a national stage.

"Competing at nationals is different from anything else in high school. You are in the same room as the best in the country — and you belong there."

Paul International at Nationals

After finishing 1st in Washington, D.C. at the State Leadership Conference — with gold medals in Coding, Video Game Design, and Podcasting — Paul International's chapter qualified multiple competitors and teams for nationals. This is the chapter's first appearance on the national competition floor, and they are arriving with results that demonstrate the program's rapid growth.

Students competing from Paul International include veterans of the state conference who now face a larger field and tougher competition. The step up in competition level is significant — but so is the preparation the team has put in since state results were announced.

How PI Tech Network Is Covering Nationals

PI Tech Network will be on the ground in Washington, D.C. for the full conference, providing daily coverage of results, competitor stories, and behind-the-scenes reporting from the event floor. Our Nationals Live hub will be updated throughout the week with recaps, photos, and video content as competition unfolds.

Frequently Asked Questions