The 2026 SAE Registration process will change this fall!
We are excited to be rolling out a new system that has long been in development. We have rolled around the idea of a registration LOTTERY for quite some time, and we are finally ready to share this new process with you! We have taken the time to research what approach we believe would best serve our most important stakeholders - you, our University Program participants. We have listened to your feedback and taken all of the lessons we have learned to apply them to this new system.
What Is Changing?
- The registration will take place within your Series webpage, NOT SAE.org
- Instead of rushing to register for a spot, and wondering which will crash out first, your team captain or the website, you will have an open time frame to enter the registration lottery! Everybody will have an equal chance to be drawn, no matter when you sign up in the 2 week window!
- There is no maximum amount of teams that can enter the lottery, only a maximum amount that can be drawn based on the Competition and Venue capacity.
- The teams that are not drawn will be placed on a waitlist, in an order decided by the lottery.
Important Dates
| Event |
Process |
Start (Open) |
End (Closed) |
| Lottery Interest Window |
Teams register interest for competition location and classes for 2026 |
October 9, 2025 10:00 AM Eastern |
October 23, 2025 11:59:59 PM Eastern |
| Lottery Published |
Registration spots are assigned and published via lottery. |
*Processing Morning of October 24 |
October 24, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern |
| Registration Closes for 2026 Season |
Any open registration spots after the lottery runs will remain available on-demand until this date. |
October 24, 2025 |
November 30, 2025 |
2026 Locations
SAE Aero Design East
March 6 - March 8, 2026
Paradise Field
4999 Air Show Road
Lakeland, FL 33811
Registration Fee: $1650.00
2026 SAE Aero Design West
April 17- April 19, 2026
Thunderbird Field
4300 Winscott Plover Road
Fort Worth, TX 76126
Registration Fee: $1650.00
Stay tuned for more! Until then, please make sure:
- All members of your team have an active account on our SAE Aero Design website
- All student members of your team have a current SAE Membership (per the rules!)
