Australian Museum School Science Eureka Prize
The 2026 School Science Eureka Prize theme has now been announced! Find out more about this year's inspiring theme and prize entry information below.
2026 Australian Museum School Science Eureka Prize theme announced!
The theme for the 2026 Australian Museum School Science Eureka Prize has been announced! Check out the tips and guides to help make your entry the best it can be!
About the School Science Eureka Prize
The Australian Museum School Science Eureka Prize encourages students to communicate a scientific concept in a way that is accessible and entertaining to the public while painlessly increasing their science knowledge. It is intended to support budding young scientists across the nation, who will be our future leaders in research, discovery and communication.
Prize information and theme available Monday 15 December 2025
Entries open Monday 9 February 2026
Entries close 7pm AEST Thursday 16 April 2026
Finalist and highly commended entrants notified by Friday 19 July 2026
Finalists announced Wednesday 29 July 2026
Winners announced Thursday 3 September 2026
Participation certificates distributed by Monday 28 September 2026
The 2026 theme is 'patterns'
This year's theme has been selected for its wide scope of interpretation. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to selecting a topic, but students are encouraged to get creative!
Among other things, judges will be assessing each entrant's passion for their chosen topic, so students should carefully consider how they will explore the theme. They may wish to start by taking one minute to write down words they associate with the words 'patterns' and discussing their list with a teacher or guardian.
Primary school
First place: $2,000
Runner up: $1,000
Runner up: $1,000
Secondary School
First place: $3,000
Runner up: $1,500
Runner up: $1,500
Prize money is divided equally between the winning student/s and their school, with the school receiving 50% of the prize money.
Representatives from the finalist teams will win a trip to Sydney for the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Award Ceremony.
Each finalist will also be awarded a share in vouchers from Abbey's Bookshop. For team entries, book vouchers are shared equally among students.
What are some ways you can assist a student with preparing a well-organised and imaginative response that addresses the assessment criteria? Read the blog post
Got a query about your School Science entry? Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for fast feedback on eligibility, entry materials, online entry forms and timelines.
If you can't find what you're looking for, contact the Eureka Prizes team via eureka@australian.museum or phone 0427 510 156.
