How to enroll
An educator (teacher, after-school leader or homeschool educator) registers the organization and team. Students don't register on their own.
- Ask a science or STEM teacher if your school already fields Future City teams
- If not, a parent can act as the educator for a homeschool or club team
- Register online, then recruit a volunteer mentor through the same site
Texas (North) region page with the 2026–27 deliverable dates and regional contact.
Texas (North) region ↗In plain words
Future City is a project-based engineering competition for middle schoolers. Teams imagine a city a century from now, write a 1,500-word essay, keep a project plan, build a physical model with a moving part from recycled materials, and give a seven-minute presentation with Q&A. The 2026–27 theme is "Fire Resilient Future": a city that can prevent, protect and recover from urban wildfires. DFW teams compete in the Texas (North) region, whose regional competition is Jan 23, 2027 at Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus in Fort Worth. The regional winner goes to the national finals in Washington, D.C. in February. Teams usually come from a school, after-school program or homeschool group; the educator registers ($25 per organization). Educator registration closes in October; the national site does not post an exact day, so register now if you are starting a team.
Kids who like building, drawing and explaining ideas, and work well in a group
Students who want a solo contest or can't commit to a four-month team project
What it takes
Step by step
- 1Find an adult to be the educator (a teacher, club leader or homeschool parent) and have them register the team
- 2Line up a volunteer mentor, ideally an engineer or planner
- 3Work through the deliverables on the North Texas schedule, Nov 10 through Jan 11
- 4Bring the model and presentation to the Fort Worth regional on Jan 23, 2027
Where it leads
- Team deliverablesNov 10, 2026 – Jan 11, 2027
Project plan and essay submitted online
- Texas (North) regionalJan 23, 2027
Fort Worth · one team advances
- National finalsFeb 2027
Washington, D.C. · travel for official team members covered
Key dates
Dates marked TEXAS or MINNESOTA are that state’s chapter dates. Other states set their own: check the official site.
- 17 DAYSProject Plan parts 1–2 due (North Texas)TEXASTue, November 10, 2026
- 45 DAYSCity Essay due (North Texas)TEXASTue, December 8, 2026
- 55 DAYSProject Plan part 3 due (North Texas)TEXASFri, December 18, 2026
- 79 DAYSProject Plan part 4 due (North Texas)TEXASMon, January 11, 2027
- 91 DAYSTexas (North) regional competition, Fort WorthTEXASSat, January 23, 2027
Free prep
Add these dates to my calendar
Dates update on their own when an organizer changes them. Nothing about your child is stored.