Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a registration fee to participate?

No. Submission to the 2026 IEEE SciVis Contest is free. You do not need to pay or register separately to enter—use the provided data and submit your visualization.

Registration for the IEEE VIS Conference itself is separate and handled by the conference organizers.

Can I participate as a team?

Yes. You may enter as an individual or as a group. We suggest keeping teams to about six members or fewer so authorship stays clear and fair.

Who can join the contest?

The contest is open worldwide. Students, researchers, industry professionals, and visualization enthusiasts are all welcome.

When and where does the contest take place?

The submission deadline was July 31, 2026. Presentations for shortlisted entries are scheduled for Monday, November 9, 8:00–11:30am at IEEE VIS 2026 in Boston (November 9–13), with a coffee break from 9:30–10:00am. A virtual presentation option will be available.

How do I know if I am shortlisted?

Shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation from the Program Chairs by the end of September to present at the SciVis Contest session, held alongside IEEE VIS. Invitations will include presentation details and logistics (in-person or virtual).

How do I join the challenge?

There is no separate registration form. The typical path is:

1. Explore the contest website, data, and example notebooks
2. Work on one or more of the listed tasks (some are optional)
3. Prepare your paper and video, then submit via Precision Conference

See the Submissions page for requirements and status.

Do I need to complete every task?

No. You are not required to address all tasks:

• Task 0 is foundational exploration to get familiar with the data.
• For a competitive entry, we encourage tackling at least one of Tasks 1–3, ideally with interactive tools for exploration.
• You may also pursue your own creative direction, as long as you use the provided datasets and demonstrate originality, insight, and strong technical execution at scale.