The Nest School
NESTival'26 Inter-School Championship
NESTival'26 Official Tree Banner
★ OCTOBER 9th & 10th, 2026 ★ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (GATES OPEN 8:30 AM) ★ 15+ INTER-SCHOOL COMPETITIONS ★ GRADES 4 TO 12 ★ REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 6th, 2026 ★ CASH PRIZES, TROPHIES & CERTIFICATES ★ THE NEST SCHOOL, CHENNAI ★ OCTOBER 9th & 10th, 2026 ★ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (GATES OPEN 8:30 AM) ★ 15+ INTER-SCHOOL COMPETITIONS ★ GRADES 4 TO 12 ★ REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 6th, 2026 ★ CASH PRIZES, TROPHIES & CERTIFICATES ★ THE NEST SCHOOL, CHENNAI
October 9th & 10th, 2026
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | The NEST School
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Watch Last Year's NESTival Festival Highlights

NESTival'26 is a premier celebration of raw talent, boundless innovation, and sportsmanship. Hosted by The NEST School, Chennai, it brings together the brightest minds across the state to compete in the arts, modern technology, and sports tournaments.

ART | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION — Inter-School Competitions
powered by Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College

Nurturing Excellence, Showcasing Talents

#GenNEST   #NESTival'26
ELIGIBILITY

Levels are defined as:

Level I Grades 4–6
Level II Grades 7–9
Level III Grades 10–12
REGISTRATION
  1. 01 Each school must register participants in advance through the official form.
  2. 02 Deadline: Tuesday, October 6th 2026.
  3. 03 Participants must report to the venue 30 minutes before scheduled time.
  4. 04 School ID cards/badges must be worn at all times.
  5. 05 Participants may take part in multiple events, provided schedules don't clash.
CONDUCT
  • → School-appropriate content only. Vulgarity or offensive language will lead to disqualification.
  • → Participants must adhere strictly to time limits.
  • → Participants are responsible for their own belongings.
TECHNICAL REQ
MEDIA FORMATS

Audio/video files submitted 48h before event (.mp3/.wav/.mp4).

BACKUPS

Participants must carry backup files in a USB drive on the day.

EQUIPMENT

All required props, cables, and accessories must be brought by you.

SETUP TIME

2 Minutes max for stage setup.

JUDGING

The decision of the judges will be final and binding.

In case of a tie, event tie-breaking rules or judges' discretion will prevail.

RESOURCES PROVIDED
→ Stage & Sound → Mics & Lighting → Tech Support → Green Rooms → Wi-Fi on request
DATE 9th & 10th October 2026
TIME 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM
VENUE The NEST School, Chennai
COLLABORATION & PARTNERS
NASSCOM
Partner 2
Partner 3
T-Hub
18+ COMPETITIONS • CASH PRIZES & TROPHIES

EVENTS, RULES & ELIGIBILITY

Participant categories: Level I (Grades 4–6) • Level II (Grades 7–9) • Level III (Grades 10–12) • Sports Divisions (U11 to U18)

ART PILLAR

Creative — Dance, Music, Improv & Visual Arts

VIBE CHECK (Dance)
I (Grades 4–7), II (Grades 8–12) • Group • Up to 12 performers • Up to 4 minutes
Open theme Dance
  • Any dance style or fusion is allowed as long as it fits the theme.
  • No AI-generated visuals or music. Pre-recorded music is allowed.
  • Props allowed but must be pre-declared and safe.
  • Media must be submitted 48 hours before the event (.mp3/.wav).
INDIE BLEND (Music)
I (Grades 4–7), II (Grades 8–12) • Solo or Group • Up to 8 performers • Solo — up to 3 mins | Group — up to 6 mins
Fusion Music Live Instruments
  • Entirely live performance, no pre-recorded tracks or karaoke.
  • No lip-syncing permitted.
  • Original compositions or creative renditions are encouraged.
PLOT LUCK (Improv)
I (Grades 4–7), II (Grades 8–12) • Group • 3–6 performers per team • Up to 7 minutes
Prompts on the spot Improv Theatre
  • No scripts allowed — must be fully improvised.
  • Teams receive prompts at the registration counter.
  • No offensive or inappropriate language/themes.
MANGA MASTERPIECES (Visual Art)
I (Grades 4–7), II (Grades 8–12) • Solo • 1 participant • 90 minutes • Theme: Cyberpunk Odyssey
Cyberpunk Odyssey Anime Art
  • Submissions must be 100% hand-drawn live during competition.
  • Standard drawing paper provided; bring traditional mediums.
  • No digital devices, reference photos, or AI allowed.
  • Spray paints, oil paints, and pre-cut stencils are prohibited.
ECO HUES (Rangoli / Eco Art)
I & II • Group • Up to 4 participants • 90 minutes • Sustainable Planet
Sustainable Planet Eco Art
  • Only natural, biodegradable materials allowed (flowers, pulses, rice flour).
  • 3 m × 3 m workspace provided per team.
  • Plastic, glitter, synthetic paints are strictly prohibited.
NEST MASTER CHEF (Fireless)
I (Grades 4–7), II (Grades 8–12) • Group • 45-60 minutes
Fireless Cooking Eat the Rainbow
  • Prepared without using fire, stove, oven, microwave, or heating appliances.
  • Must contain at least 5 different natural colours or 5 major ingredients.
  • Artificial food colours are not permitted.
  • Final assembly and plating must happen at the venue.
TECH PILLAR

Technology — Robotics, Drones, AI & Innovation

DRONE DASH (Obstacle Race)
I & II • Up to 2 participants • High Precision
Drone Racing FPV / Line-of-Sight
  • Participants must bring their own drone, fully charged.
  • Organizers will not provide drones.
  • Safety gear (goggles, propeller guards) is mandatory.
KICKBOT ARENA (Robo Soccer)
I & II • Teams of 2 students • 4 Matches Total
Robotics Robo Soccer
  • Only battery-powered bots allowed (autonomous or RC).
  • Max size: 15x15x15 cm, Max weight: 2 kg.
  • 1v1 format, 1 minute per game, 4 matches total.
AI COMIC STRIP (AI Art)
I & II • Up to 2 participants • 2 hours
AI Prompting Storytelling
  • Bring a device with AI access and use own subscriptions.
  • No plagiarism / copy-paste from pre-written stories.
  • Core story and images must be AI-generated (5 images max).
SHARK TANK JR (Pitch)
I & II • Solo or Group • Up to 4 participants • Pitch: 4 mins | Q&A: 2 mins
Entrepreneurship Product Pitch
  • Pitches must be original student work.
  • Submit one-page summary & slides 48 hours before.
  • Prototypes must be safe and quick to set up (max 2 mins).
GAMEVERSE (Game Dev)
Level I (Play IT!), Level II (Save the Planet) • Teams of 2–3 • 90-120 mins creation
Game Dev Coding
  • Game must be original (Scratch, MakeCode, Roblox, GDevelop, Python).
  • Must contain clear objective, start/end conditions, levels, and scoring.
  • Level II must require player decision-making and environmental theme.
SPORTS PILLAR

Sports — Football, Cricket, Basketball, Badminton, Archery, Pickleball, Paddle Ball & Shooting

5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL (Turf)
U11, U13, U15, U17 • 5 + 3 Players (Max 8) • 12-2-12 minutes
Football Knockout
  • Knockout format played on NEST School Football Turf.
  • Rolling substitutions are permitted.
  • Shin guards and turf shoes mandatory.
TENNIS BALL CRICKET (6-Over)
School teams • 6 Overs per innings • Heavy Tennis Ball
Cricket 6-Over Match
  • Max 2 overs per bowler.
  • Wide / No-ball = 1 run + extra delivery / free hit.
  • Ties resolved via a 1-over Super Over.
BASKETBALL (Under 13 & 15)
U13, U15 (Boys & Girls) • 5 players on court (Max 12) • 4 quarters
Basketball Court Game
  • Standard basketball rules apply (traveling, double dribble).
  • Ties resolved via 3-minute overtime periods.
  • Proper sports attire and court shoes mandatory.
BADMINTON (Singles & Doubles)
U14 & U18 (Boys & Girls) • Singles & Doubles • 15 Mins • 11 pts
Badminton Rally Point
  • Played using rally-point system (11 points, win by 2).
  • Diagonal serve from behind service line into opponent court.
  • Shuttle landing outside marked court is considered out.
  • Players must follow referee decisions and demonstrate sportsmanship.
ARCHERY (Target Precision)
U14 & U18 (Boys & Girls) • Individual Precision Target
Archery Precision Aim
  • Follow referee instructions and handle bows/arrows safely at all times.
  • Only approved bows, arrows, and protective equipment may be used.
  • Shoot only when referee gives signal; stay behind shooting line.
  • Each arrow is scored according to where it lands on target.
PICKLEBALL (Court Game)
U14 & U18 (Boys & Girls) • Singles / Doubles • 15 Mins • 11 pts
Pickleball Fast-Paced
  • Serve diagonally, two-bounce rule applies.
  • Matches played to 11 points (win by 2).
  • Ties might use deciding point or short tie-break.
PADDLE BALL (Court Clash)
U14 & U18 (Boys & Girls) • Singles / Doubles • 15 Mins • 11 pts
Paddle Ball 11 Points
  • Use paddle and ball provided, remain in designated court area.
  • Matches played to 11 points (win by 2).
  • Ties might use deciding point or short tie-break.
RIFLE SHOOTING (Precision)
U15 & U18 • Individual Precision Competition
Shooting Precision Target
  • Only organiser-approved rifles and ammunition permitted.
  • Safety is highest priority. Follow range officer commands strictly.
  • Highest total score from target ring hits wins.
OCTOBER 9 & 10, 2026

THE TIMELINE

Two days of non-stop action on October 9th & 10th.

DAY 1: THE SPARK

9th Oct, Friday
08:30 AM
REGISTRATIONS & REPORTING

Get your tags and gear up.

09:00 AM
EVENTS COMMENCE

Kickoff & competitions begin across all tracks.

04:00 PM
DAY 1 CONCLUDES

Day 1 event showdowns wrap up.

DAY 2: THE GLORY

10th Oct, Saturday
09:00 AM
EVENTS & FINALS COMMENCE

The ultimate showdowns begin.

02:00 PM
CULTURAL SHOWCASE

Special performances & exhibitions.

03:30 PM
VALEDICTORY CEREMONY

Crowning the champions (Concludes at 04:00 PM).

GRAND REWARDS

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Win exciting tech gadgets, trophies, masterclass admissions, and prestigious certificates!

Exciting Prizes

Participate & Win Exciting Prizes

Grand trophies, smart TVs, laptops, and cash prize rewards for winning schools.

Laptop • TV • Cash Rewards
Master Class

Free Master Classes

Exclusive hands-on masterclasses delivered by tech mentors and industry architects.

AI & Cyber Security
Internship Training

Industry Internship Training

Direct internship and mentorship opportunities with premier corporate and tech hubs.

Internships • Industry Partners
HELP DESK

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about participating in NESTival'26

NESTival'26 will take place on Friday, 9th October and Saturday, 10th October 2026 at The NEST School, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 24. Events on both days commence at 9:00 AM and conclude at 4:00 PM (Gates open at 8:30 AM).

NESTival'26 is open to students from grades 4 to 12 across all recognized schools. Competitions are structured into Level I (Grades 4–6), Level II (Grades 7–9), Level III (Grades 10–12), and Sports age divisions (U11 to U18).

No, there is no entry fee! Registration and participation in NESTival'26 is completely free of cost for all schools and students.

Yes! Students are welcome to compete in multiple events across Art, Tech, and Sports pillars as long as their stage schedules and competition timings do not conflict.

We do not provide lunch or refreshments. However, multiple dedicated food stalls will be available across the campus throughout both days offering food, snacks, and beverages for purchase.