Toronto Brain Bee

The 2026 Toronto Brain Bee was held on Friday, March 27 at the University of Toronto

Thank you to all students for participating, and to teachers and volunteers for their support in making this event a success.

We look forward to welcoming you again next year!

About Brain Bee

The Brain Bee is a written knowledge based competition for high school students. It tests the knowledge of the students in neuroscience. The original contest format was derived from the traditional Spelling Bee.

The Toronto Brain Bee is a local competition for high school students in the GTA region. The champion will compete in the National Brain Bee.

2026 Toronto Brain Bee Schedule

12:30 p.m. Check-in beings (Pre-registered students only; student ID required, signed permission form, and signed confidentiality form)

1:30 p.m. Welcome & Opening remarks

1:40 p.m. Group Photo

1:45 p.m. Round 1: All Contestants

2:40 p.m. Break 1 – Light refreshments provided

2:50 p.m. Firefly Presentation

3:00 p.m. Graduate Student Presentation (with Q&A)

3:10 p.m Graduate Student Presentation (with Q&A)

3:20 p.m. Top 50% contestants announced

3:30 p.m. Round 2: Top 50% of Contestants

4:20 p.m. Break 2

4:35 p.m. Top 10 contestants announced

4:45 p.m. Round 3: Top 10 Contestants

5:15 p.m. Awards Presentation and Closing Remarks

Notes:
1) The Permission Form, Confidentiality Form and Media Release Form should be signed by a parent/guardian of the student participating in the Toronto Brain Bee Competition.
2) Participation certificates will be provided by email.
3) Award certificates will be provided to the top-ranking competitors

Study Guides

Open Neuroscience Initiative

By Dr. Austin Lim

Neuroscience Online

By McGovern Medical School & the University of Texas Health Science Center at Huston

Canadian National Brain Bee

The 2026 National Brain Bee Competition will be held in two phases: Toronto Brain Bee winners are invited to compete in the first phase, virtually on Friday, April 24, 2026 and the Final Showdown will be held in-person at the 2026 Canadian Association for Neurosciences annual meeting in Montreal on May 20th, 2026 from 12:00 – 1:30 PM.

International Brain Bee

The top five winners of the 2025 IBB World Championship will receive a medal and have the unique opportunity to participate in the third IBB NextGen event to be hosted at the FENS Forum 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, in July 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any additional materials other than the study guides found on the Toronto Brain Bee website that you would recommend?

The students are expected to understand the materials in the two study guides (links on this webpage). Other related information can be found from independent sources.

Is there a maximum number of competitors that can attend from a particular school?

No.

What is the format of the Toronto Brain Bee competition?

It is a written competition featuring three rounds of multiple choice, fill in the blanks, and true/false questions.

When is the next Toronto Brain Bee competition?

The next Toronto Brain Bee competition will be held in March 2026.

Where can I find out more about the CPIN neuroscience course for high school students (NeuroSci 101)?

Please check the following page: NeuroSci 101

Where can I find sample questions for the Toronto Brain Bee?

Please check the following link: Toronto Brain Bee sample questions

Who can be a sponsor?

A Brain Bee contestant sponsor can be an adult such as a parent or teacher. The sponsor ensures that the student participant is prepared for and attends the competition following registration.

Who is eligible to participate at the Toronto Brain Bee?

All high-school students from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). A student is only allowed to participate in a single national Brain Bee event (per year) taking place in the nearest proximity to their high-school.