About

The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is a multi-round competition designed to identify and train the top high school biology students for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The competition begins with the online Open Exam (OE) on February 23, 2026. Students who perform exceptionally on the OE advance to the Semifinal Exam (SF) on March 23, 2026. Only US citizens or legal permanent residents can advance past the Open Exam.

The most successful Semifinalists attend the National Finals, tentatively scheduled for late June/early July 2026, where they receive intensive training. The top four students selected at the National Finals will represent the US at the 2026 International Biology Olympiad in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2026. Registration for schools opens on August 7, 2025, and closes, along with student registration, on November 15, 2025.