Falling Walls Lab 2026: Apply now and come to Berlin

Three minutes, one slide, one idea, and perhaps a ticket to Brain City Berlin. The Falling Walls Lab is a global pitch competition for students and early-career researchers that brings groundbreaking ideas from science, technology and society to an international stage. The 2026 season runs until 15 September.

The Falling Walls concept

The task sounds simple, but is a real challenge: in exactly three minutes, with just one slide, participants must identify a problem, present their innovative solution and make the case for its societal or scientific value. The metaphor says it all: break down a wall, overcome an obstacle, make something new possible.

The format was created by the Falling Walls Foundation and is supported substantially by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Local Labs take place at leading universities and institutions around the world, with winners qualifying for the Global Finale in Berlin. In 2025, over 2,750 applicants from 60 countries took part.

The finale in Brain City

Berlin Winners of the Falling Walls Lab travel to Berlin in November to compete at the Falling Walls Science Summit. The timing is deliberate: the Summit takes place annually from 7 to 9 November, coinciding with the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The guiding question is: "Which are the next walls to fall in science and society?" Over three days, leading international researchers, innovators and decision-makers come together for talks, discussions and debates. Lab winners compete in the "Emerging Talents" category.

Who can apply?

The Falling Walls Lab is open to students and early-career professionals. Anyone who meets at least one of the following criteria is eligible:

• Currently enrolled at a university
• Bachelor's degree obtained no more than ten years ago (2016 or later)
• Master's degree obtained no more than seven years ago (2019 or later)
• PhD obtained no more than five years ago (2021 or later)

Only one application per person to one Lab is permitted. Anyone who has previously participated in a Falling Walls Lab is not eligible to apply again.

Labs with open application deadlines (selection)

The following Labs still have open deadlines:

• Jena, Germany: deadline 31 July 2026
• Münster, Germany: deadline 1 August 2026
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: deadline 1 August 2026
• Guatemala City, Guatemala: deadline 2 August 2026
• Wroclaw, Poland: deadline 13 August 2026
• Okinawa, Japan: deadline 16 August 2026
• Uppsala, Sweden: deadline 22 August 2026
• Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: deadline 23 August 2026
• Gaborone, Botswana: deadline 24 August 2026
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: deadline 1 September 2026

The full list of Labs worldwide and further information on how to apply can be found at falling-walls.com/lab.

Read more:  

• All Falling Walls Labs and application deadlines
• Falling Walls Science Summit
• More about Falling Walls on the Brain City Berlin website