| 2026 IESA Scholastic Bowl State Finals Set for Peoria Civic Center on May 8
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The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Scholastic Bowl State Finals will be held at the Peoria Civic Center on Friday, May 8. This year marks the 36th anniversary of state series competition in Scholastic Bowl, and for the thirteenth consecutive year, the event will be hosted in Peoria.
Since the inception of the IESA state series in 1988, the tournament has evolved from a single-class format to the current dual classification of Class A and Class AA, introduced in 1997 based on school size. This year, a total of 16 teams—eight from Class A and eight from Class AA—will compete, with each team vying for the prestigious title in their respective class.
The competition will kick off at 1:00 p.m., with each class divided into two pools of four teams. Following the initial three rounds of play, the winners of each pool will advance to the championship match, while the runners-up will compete for third-place honors. Matches are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., followed by an hour-long intermission for dinner. The final matches, including the awards ceremony, will commence at 5:00 p.m.
Admission to the event is set at $5.00 for all attendees, granting entry for the entire day of competition. Children younger than kindergarten can attend free of charge. Attendees will receive a wristband for all-day access throughout the venue.
This year, the Scholastic Bowl series attracted participation from 378 member schools, showcasing the excitement and intellectual rigor of this academic competition. The questions used during the tournament are provided by Reinstein Quiz Bowl, and the event will utilize the advanced lockout systems by Quiz Bowl Systems, ensuring smooth gameplay.
The full schedule, team pairings, and additional details, including the opportunity to listen to the championship matches online, are available on the IESA website. Only the championship matches for each class will be broadcast.
Here is a look at each of the two 2026 State Final Tournaments:
CLASS A TOURNAMENT
POOL A TEAMS: Palatine Quest, Morton Bethel Lutheran, Springfield Christian, Fairfield Jasper
POOL B TEAMS: Brimfield, Normal Metcalf, Monmouth ICS, Champaign Next Generation
Pool A
1:00 p.m. – Palatine Quest v Fairfield Jasper
1:00 p.m. – Springfield Christian v Morton Bethel Lutheran
2:00 p.m. – Palatine Quest v Springfield Christian
2:00 p.m. – Fairfield Jasper v Morton Bethel Lutheran
3:00 p.m. – Palatine Quest v Morton Bethel Lutheran
3:00 p.m. – Fairfield Jasper v Springfield Christian
Pool B
1:00 p.m. – Normal Metcalf v Brimfield
1:00 p.m. – Champaign Next Generation v Monmouth ICS
2:00 p.m. – Normal Metcalf v Champaign Next Generation
2:00 p.m. – Brimfield v Monmouth ICS
3:00 p.m. – Normal Metcalf v Monmouth ICS
3:00 p.m. – Brimfield v Champaign Next Generation
5:00 p.m. – Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B runner-up (third place)
5:00 p.m. – Pool A winner vs. Pool B winner (championship)
CLASS AA TOURNAMENT
POOL A TEAMS: Rockford Marshall, Frankfort Hickory Creek, Springfield Franklin, St. Jacob Triad
POOL B TEAMS: Buffalo Grove Twin Groves, Minooka, Dunlap MS, Champaign Jefferson
Pool A
1:00 p.m. – St. Jacob Triad v Rockford Marshall
1:00 p.m. – Frankfort Hickory Creek v Springfield Franklin
2:00 p.m. – St. Jacob Triad v Frankfort Hickory Creek
2:00 p.m. – Rockford Marshall v Springfield Franklin
3:00 p.m. – St. Jacob Triad v Springfield Franklin
3:00 p.m. – Rockford Marshall v Frankfort Hickory Creek
Pool B
1:00 p.m. – Dunlap MS v Minooka
1:00 p.m. – Buffalo Grove Twin Groves v Champaign Jefferson
2:00 p.m. – Dunlap MS v Buffalo Grove Twin Groves
2:00 p.m. – Minooka v Champaign Jefferson
3:00 p.m. – Dunlap MS v Champaign Jefferson
3:00 p.m. – Minooka v Buffalo Grove Twin Groves
5:00 p.m. – Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B runner-up (third place)
5:00 p.m. – Pool A winner vs. Pool B winner (championship)
Join us for a day of intellect, competition, and celebration of academic excellence as we recognize the hard work and dedication of these talented students.
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