This year at the Nebraska State Fair, we will have two sectors of our puzzle contest, with one being open (anyone can enter), and the other being championship, which means competitors will have to qualify for the competition. Due to the qualification nature of the competition, the top three winners will be awarded $300, $200, and $100 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively in cash prizes in the 2026 Puzzle Championships, along with commemorative trophies, so we highly recommend you attend a qualification competition to qualify for this competition! To find more information about qualifying for the Nebraska State Fair Puzzle Championships, click the “Puzzle Qualifiers” button found below.

The open sector of the Nebraska State Fair Puzzle Competition will be open for anyone to register (no qualification needed), and will award cash prizes of $160, $80, and $40 to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners respectively.

Our competition is an identical 500-piece puzzle with up to four members per team. Registration for the open competition is $83 per team. Pre-registration is required; no walkup registrations will be permitted. More information on how to register for a qualifier competition or the open competition can be found below.