2026 CME Group University Trading Challenge

The CME Group University Trading Challenge is a complimentary electronic trading competition that allows students to experience the excitement, energy and decision-making environment of real-time trading. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students are provided an opportunity to trade a variety of CME Group products from multiple asset classes in a simulated, professional trading platform provided by CQG.

Competition Eligibility

  • Each team is required to have three to five students from the same graduate level.
  • All participants must be enrolled at an accredited college or university throughout the duration of the competition. Recent graduates are not eligible to participate.
  • Creating a team of students from different colleges or universities is not permitted.
  • Faculty Advisors are highly recommended to oversee each school’s participation. Faculty advisors are not permitted to participate as a member of the team and are ineligible to receive a prize if their team is a winner.

NOTE: If it is discovered at any time before, during or after the competition that a team/individual does not meet ALL of the requirements listed above, that team/individual will be immediately disqualified and will forfeit any prizes.

Eligibility to receive competition prizes is only open to residents in the United States (US), Canada (CA) excluding Quebec, United Kingdom (UK), Germany (DE), Netherlands (NL), Switzerland (CH), Republic of Korea (KR), Taiwan (TW), and Japan (JP).


Rules, Regulations and Requirements

All participants must follow the outlined rules, regulations and requirements throughout the duration of the challenge. Click here for complete CME Group University Trading Challenge rules, regulations and requirements.

Terms and Conditions:

APAC

EMEA

North America

Products and Contract Specifications

Teams will be able to trade all of the supported CME Group futures products through CME Globex on CQG’s trading applications during the competition.
Competition products include futures contracts from the following asset classes:

If you have any questions, email trading.challenge@cmegroup.com.

REGISTRATION DATES:
General Registration
September 1, 2026

Registration Closes
September 30, 2026

CHALLENGE DATES:
Start Date
October 4, 2026

End Date
October 30, 2026

CLOSING EVENT:
Day of Market Education
December 7, 2026