Breakthrough Junior Challenge

About the Program

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual, global science video competition for high-school students. It was founded in 2015 by Julia and Yuri Milner. Prizes include a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship for the student, a $50,000 prize for their teacher, and a $100,000 Breakthrough Science Lab for their school.

Deadline check (2026-11-03): The official 2026 rules confirm the May 11 opening, September 15 submission deadline and September 30 peer-review deadline (both deadlines 11:59 p.m. PDT), and the May 11 age cutoff. The home page says submissions have ended; the timeline documents ongoing judging, November 24–December 9 popular voting, and December 10 finalist announcements. Voting is not a new submission window. The winner-announcement date remains TBD, and no 2027 application dates were found on these pages.

Eligibility

The content created must be original work, in English, and not contain unlawful, hateful, or obscene content. It should not include other identifiable individuals without consent. Entries must comply with YouTube's Community Guidelines. Individuals between the ages of 13 and 18. For the 2026 competition, must be 13 years of age by May 11, 2026 and not yet 19 years of age on October 1, 2026. High-school students.

Eligible Countries

How to Apply

For the 2026 competition, go to the website, click "Enter," complete the application form, and submit a video of 2 minutes or under on YouTube (not marked as private). Must also review at least five (5) other entries from peers. The official site says the 2026 submission period has ended; no 2027 application dates have been verified.