Timberline Middle School wins 2026 National Biology Bowl Championship

The 2026 National Biology Bowl was held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, bringing together some of the nation’s most talented young biology students for a day of rigorous academic competition.

This year, 52 middle school teams representing states across the country competed in the National Biology Bowl, and a team from Timberline Middle School came away victorious. Modeled in a quiz bowl format, the competition is conducted online, with students using their keyboards as buzzers to answer challenging biology questions. Topics span a broad range of biological disciplines, including cell biology, genetics, physiology, botany, zoology and animal behavior, evolution, ecology, and microbiology. Following three rounds of round-robin competition, teams advanced to a single-elimination playoff bracket.

In the end, Timberline emerged victorious to claim the 2026 National Biology Bowl title. Timberline is the eighth National Biology Bowl champion.

The National Biology Bowl is organized entirely by high school volunteers who are passionate about biology education and community service. Volunteers devoted months of preparation to developing questions, coordinating logistics, moderating matches and ensuring a successful competition experience for participants nationwide.

The National Biology Bowl was founded in 2019 as an in-person competition in Southern California. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event transitioned to an online format, allowing students from across the United States to participate. Over the past three years, the competition has consistently attracted more than 50 teams and over 200 competitors annually.