Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) is now accepting applications for its sixth-annual Solar Games competition to be held February 18-20, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.
The Solar Games tasks teams with building residential solar + storage systems — including solar modules, racking, inverters, battery storage and other components — live in a stadium setting within the exhibit hall. The 2026 competition will incorporate new challenges and tests yet to be announced, with competing teams judged on installation quality, safety, speed and other criteria as they advance through the tournament. The winning team will be named Solar Games Champion and awarded $10,000.
2025 Solar Games Champions Huston Solar shared insight for installer teams interested in applying: “We highly recommend it. Even if you do not make it far in the games, the trade show itself is a great experience, the team bonding you gain is immeasurable and watching masters at their craft can teach you some things you didn’t know before.”
Team requirements and details
- Teams located in North America must submit an application before the September 19, 2025 deadline.
- All team members must be OSHA 10 certified; one member must be a NABCEP PV Installation Professional, Technical Sales Professional or a licensed/apprenticed electrician.
- Cash prizes include: first place $10,000, second place $3,500, and third place $2,500.
- An advisory board representing the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, ReVision Energy, Rolls Battery Engineering, SnapNrack, Solar Cowboyz and Twende Solar will help develop and oversee the competition.
- Sponsor-provided equipment will later be donated to Twende Solar for use in projects empowering under-resourced communities with renewable energy systems. The growing list of 2026 equipment sponsors includes Fronius, K2 Systems and SolaDeck.
News item from IESNA
