2025-2026 Illinois DI Affiliate Tournaments Information

As of this time, each team must attend one of the Regional Tournaments and supply one adult to be trained to be one of the Appraisers.  If your team is not available on the date for your Regional, they may attend another Regional. Competitive Challenge Program teams will be scored in both Team Challenge and Instant Challenge. Regional Teams Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in each Challenge and at each age Level, will receive a team trophy and each Team Member will receive a medal. Non-competitive K-2nd grade students participating in the Early Learning Challenge will receive a medal. At some Regionals, a High Instant Challenge medal may be awarded.

At the Affiliate Final, Teams will need to supply one trained adult to be a Challenge Appraiser. The competitive teams placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in each level of each Team Challenge will receive medals and a trophy. In addition, the team receiving the highest score in Instant Challenge for each level of each Challenge, when there is more than one team participating in that level, will receive a medal for that accomplishment. Special Awards will also be awarded.

This season, Illinois DI teams placing 1st and 2nd at the Affiliate Final Tournament, will be invited to participate in Global Finals, May 21- 24, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. Competition will take place Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24. Participation at Global Finals is a wonderful experience, and many teams who have attended before, would do it again if they qualified. Additional teams may be invited to Global Finals as space in the Challenges and Levels becomes available. 

Illinois DI 2025-2026 Calendar – more events to come!

August 1, 2025 – Team Materials available for Purchase on the DI Website: https://resources.destinationimagination.org/shop.php

September, October and November 2025 – Team Manager Trainings – virtual and In Person TBD

January 15, 2026– Registration Deadline for Regional Tournaments. Fee to Participate at one Regional, $100.00 for all teams, Early Learning and Competitive teams. All teams must supply one adult to be trained and to work as a scoring official (Appraiser).

January 31, 2026 – Deadline to ask  DI a Team Clarification

February 21 and 28, 2026 – Regional Tournaments – Locations TBD 

March 4, 2026 – Deadline to Register for Affiliate Final. Registration Fee per team number, $100.00 and all teams participating must have a trained adult to be the Appraiser. (Teams may register early for the Affiliate)

March 21, 2026 – Illinois Destination Imagination Affiliate Final Tournament, TBD (possibly Loyola Academy, Wilmette) Tournament from approx. 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM  In person Award Ceremony to follow.  

May 21-24, 2026 – Destination Imagination Global Finals – Kansas City, Mo.  For more information about Global Finals;   http://Globalfinals.org

Here is  the Affiliate Program booklet for last season,, which includes the schedule for the day along with a map of the school.