Every May, our community comes together for Global Finals — the world’s largest celebration of creativity and the culminating event of the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience. It’s the moment when the top-scoring DI teams from around the world gather to share solutions they’ve spent months imagining, building, testing, and refining together. For many students, Global Finals represents the culmination of an entire season of collaboration, perseverance, and creative problem-solving.
If you’ve volunteered before, you know that what happens onstage is only possible because of what happens behind the scenes. From our Score Rooms to our Challenge Sites to behind-the-scenes logistics, our volunteers are the steady hands, thoughtful problem-solvers, and reassuring presence that keep everything moving—and we need you again in Kansas City this year!
Destination Imagination is now accepting nominations for volunteers to serve as officials at Global Finals 2026, taking place May 21–24 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Global Finals volunteers must meet the following requirements:
- Able to be in Kansas City, MO during the last week of May 2026 OR are willing to work remotely in the weeks leading up to Global Finals.
- Are trained in at least one of this season’s Team Challenges OR are willing to complete online training before arriving in Kansas City.
- Are willing and able to pass a background check before arriving in Kansas City.
- Are at least 18 years of age.
- Will NOT serve as a Team Manager for a team participating in Global Finals 2026.
Available positions include (but are not limited to): Team Challenge Appraisers, Instant Challenge Appraisers, Prop Storage Managers, Information Booth Agents, and more. Limited virtual positions are also available. Volunteers selected for in-person roles will receive room and board for their time in Kansas City, as well as event t-shirts to wear on-site. Volunteers are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
To be considered for a position at Global Finals 2026, please complete the following steps:
- Click here to answer a few brief questions to nominate yourself.
- Complete your Global Finals application in our Resource Area. (You will be taken directly to the application once you complete your nomination.)
- Wait to hear from us! We will start offering volunteer positions in late March and continue until positions are filled. All applicants will receive notice from us whether or not they will be offered a position. We strongly recommend that you do NOT book non-refundable travel until you have been offered a position.
Nominations are open now. Nominees who have completed their application by February 15 have the best chance of being selected.
Questions about volunteering at Global Finals can be directed to [email protected].
