2026 Optimist Brain Bowl Tournaments
South Qualifier – Saturday, January 24, 2026, Littleton CO
North Qualifier – February 7, Aurora CO
Championship – Saturday, February 21, 2026, Denver CO
See Reader Training Schedule outlined below left.
An Optimist Brain Bowl Tournament requires one Reader for every two teams registered for the tournament. Each Brain Bowl Tournament will have about 60 teams registered. Readers may elect to work the full day or just the morning rounds.
During Optimist Brain Bowl team-to-team round competition, the Reader is the official in charge of not only reading the questions but keeping the competition fair and on time. All readers are trained prior to the tournament on all the competition procedures. Experienced Readers are required to attend training every year to be kept up on any procedural changes.
The Optimist Brain Bowl is subject to host school protocols put in place to keep students, volunteers and parents safe. More information on team/volunteer safety will be discussed at Reader Training. See below for the Reader Training Schedule.
Reader Training Schedule
Readers are required to take training every year to become comfortable with the process and to become familiar with any rule changes. Readers need only attend one training per year.
2026 Reader Trainings
Saturday, January 10, 2026
9AM – Noon
Room 2329
Heritage High School
1401 W. Geddes Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
6:30 PM – 9:00PM
Room 2329
1401 W. Geddes Ave.
Littleton, CO 80120
Saturday, January 17, 2026
9:00 AM – Noon
Osgood & Osgood LLC
2586 Trailridge Dr.
Lafayette, CO 80026
Reader Resources
Competition Rules
Protest Procedures
Watch for additional resources as the 2026 Reader Procedures are finalized.
For more information on Readers and procedures contact Training Director.
Reader Planning Schedule
6:45 Volunteer Check-In
7:00 Reader Check-In
7:45 – 8:00 Team Check-In
8:00 – 8:15 Team Orientation
Morning Rounds
8:30 – 9:00 Round One
9:10 – 9:35 Round Two
9:45 – 10:10 Round Three
10:20 – 10:45 Round Four
10:55 – 11:20 Round Five
11:20 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – Scores announced and posted
Many teams and volunteers will be done for the day at 12:30.
Afternoon Rounds
12:45 – 1:10 1st Elimination (Top 8 teams per grade)
1:15 – 1:40 2nd Elimination (Winners from 1st Elimination)
1:45 – 2:10 Championship and Consolation Rounds
Awards