Qiskit Fall Fest at UT Austin

Hosted by the IEEE Nanotechnology Council student chapter at The University of Texas at Austin, co-hosted with the Texas Quantum Institute.

Qiskit
Fall Fest
2026

November 16-20, 2026 Austin, Texas

A research poster session opens the week on Monday. A Qiskit coding challenge runs online from Monday through Friday. On Friday a researcher from IBM Quantum speaks at 2 pm in PMA 9.222, and we announce the winners.

Qiskit Fall Fest 2026
5
days of challenge, Monday through Friday
1
poster session, Monday, in person on campus
1
speaker from IBM Quantum, Friday 2-3 pm, PMA 9.222
0
cost, and no prior quantum experience assumed

The week, as a circuit

Monday puts everyone in the same starting state: posters go up, the challenge opens. The middle of the week is the challenge itself. Friday is the readout: the talk, and the results.

q0 = |0⟩

Mon 11/16

Poster session and challenge launch

Research posters on quantum information, quantum materials, and nanoscale devices, in person on campus, co-hosted with the Texas Quantum Institute. The Qiskit challenge opens the same day.

in person
Tue 11/17 to Thu 11/19

Qiskit Challenge

Quantum programming problems you work through on your own schedule, solo or in a small team. Everything runs online through IBM Quantum Platform, so you can take part from anywhere. Submissions close Thursday night.

online, work on it any time
Fri 11/20

IBM Quantum talk and results

A researcher from IBM Quantum comes to campus to talk about where the field actually stands today, followed by the challenge results.

in person, 2-3 pm, PMA 9.222

Three ways to take part

Come to all of it or pick one. Each part stands on its own.

Monday, in person

The poster session

Co-hosted with the Texas Quantum Institute. Bring current work in quantum information, quantum materials, or nanoscale devices. Results in progress are welcome, and a poster session is a good place to get feedback before they are finished.

  • Graduate and undergraduate researchers
  • Submit a title and a short abstract
  • Boards and printing guidance provided
  • Abstract deadline: Nov 11, reviewed as they come in
Monday to Friday, online

The challenge

A set of Qiskit problems that build from single-gate circuits up to a small algorithm. You do not need to finish everything to place.

  • Runs entirely on IBM Quantum Platform
  • Solo or teams of up to three
  • Submissions close Thursday night
Friday 2-3 pm, PMA 9.222, in person

The talk and the results

A researcher from IBM Quantum joins us on campus for a Qiskit and quantum computing primer: what today's hardware can and cannot do, what IBM Quantum is working on now, and how to keep going after the week ends. Challenge winners are announced afterward.

  • PMA 9.222, 2-3 pm, in person
  • Pitched at people new to Qiskit
  • Open to the whole campus, no registration needed
  • Time for questions after

Registration is open

One form signs you up for the challenge. Presenting a poster is a separate submission, since we need your abstract. The challenge and poster session are for UT Austin students; the Friday talk is open to the whole campus. Questions go to sabiqislam@utexas.edu.

Who is putting this on

host IEEE Nanotechnology Council

Student chapter at The University of Texas at Austin. Organizing and running the week.

co-host Texas Quantum Institute, The University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin's quantum research institute, co-hosting the Monday poster session.

supported by IBM Quantum

Qiskit Fall Fest is a global, student-run season of quantum computing events supported by IBM Quantum.

Questions

Do I need to know quantum mechanics?

No. The first problems assume nothing beyond some Python, and IBM publishes free Qiskit tutorials that cover everything the challenge uses. Links go out with your registration confirmation.

Do I have to do all of it?

No. The three parts are independent. You can present a poster without touching the challenge, do the challenge without coming to campus, or just show up Friday for the talk.

Can I take part remotely?

The challenge is fully online, so that part works from anywhere. The Monday poster session and the Friday talk are both in person on campus.

Can I present a poster as an undergraduate?

Yes. Undergraduate and graduate researchers are both welcome, and work in progress is fine. A poster session is a good place to get feedback before results are finished.

Does my poster have to be about quantum computing?

Quantum information, quantum materials, and nanoscale devices are all in scope. If you are unsure whether your work fits, email us and we will tell you.

What is Qiskit Fall Fest?

A season of quantum computing events held each autumn at universities around the world, organized by students and supported by IBM Quantum. Hundreds of campuses take part. This is the UT Austin one.