UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Degree‑seeking graduate students from all Penn State colleges and campuses are invited to register for the 2026 Graduate Exhibition, which will take place Friday, March 27, on the University Park campus.
The annual community showcase, hosted by the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, provides graduate students with the opportunity to share their research and creative scholarship to a broad audience, receive constructive feedback, and compete for cash prizes. Students may present research posters, video presentations, musical performances, visual art exhibitions, and design projects before members of the Penn State graduate community and the public.
Registration deadlines vary by exhibition category. Students interested in taking advantage of free poster printing, sponsored by the Fox Graduate School, must complete their registration and submit their exhibitions by Friday, March 6.
Research and creative scholarship showcase
Now in its 41st year, the Graduate Exhibition celebrates graduate research and creative scholarship as an integral part of graduate education at Penn State.
“The Graduate Exhibition provides graduate students with a valuable platform to showcase their academic work, strengthen their communication skills, and engage with a broader audience,” said Seoki Lee, professor of hospitality management and chair of the Graduate Exhibition committee. “As a Penn State alumnus, I participated in the Graduate Exhibition more than 20 years ago, and I still vividly remember the energy of the event, the lively exchange of ideas, the strong sense of community among presenters and attendees, and the excitement of sharing one’s work. It is an experience that fosters both professional development and meaningful recognition of students’ research and creative achievements.”
Participants have said that the Graduate Exhibition offers valuable opportunities to engage with community members from all different backgrounds.
Janice Tran and Muhammad Faizan Raza, master’s students in data analytics at Great Valley, attended the 2025 Graduate Exhibition to present how night-time satellite imagery may predict economic indicators. Raza said the chance to present helped the pair to see new ways to communicate their research and consider new ideas.
“Every time we present to someone new, we actually learn something new about our projects, as well,” Raza said. “I would encourage everybody to participate in the Exhibition to showcase your projects. You will get a lot of helpful feedback from the judges and new ideas to add to your presentation or project.”
Faizah Alshehri, a doctoral candidate in biobehavioral health, presented at the 2025 Graduate Exhibition her research on how psychosocial stressors can impact preterm birth in Hispanic and Latino women. For her, the community aspect of the event was most impactful.
“The thing I love most about this event is that it’s bringing graduate students together, to show the talent and amazing knowledge that Penn State students are reaching, and this is great,” she said.
Exhibition categories
The Graduate Exhibition includes five categories, intended to represent a wide range of research and creative accomplishments
- Research poster presentations, featuring five subcategories — arts and humanities; engineering; health and life sciences; physical sciences and mathematics; and social and behavioral sciences — allow students to present their work using a vertical poster format.
- Video presentations consist of a five‑minute recorded presentation that communicates the relevance and impact of the student’s scholarly work.
- Performance presentations are open to graduate students pursuing degrees in the performing arts and will be held in the Penn State Music Building.
- Visual arts exhibits are open to graduate students whose degree programs require the creation of studio‑based work.
- Design exhibits include products such as three‑dimensional objects, simulations, computer‑aided design (CAD) projects, video games, musical compositions or other design‑based work.
Event schedule
Research poster presentations, visual arts exhibits and design exhibits will be presented from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 27 in the HUB‑Robeson Center.
Performance Night will take place March 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Esber Recital Hall of Music Building I.
Visual arts exhibits will remain on display in the HUB‑Robeson Gallery following the exhibition, and video presentations will be available to view online during the week of the event. Additional schedule details will be posted on the Graduate Exhibition website.
Awards and judging
Awards will be presented to the top entries in each exhibition category, with first‑place prizes of $1,000, second‑place prizes of $500 and third‑place prizes of $250. Students may also be considered for Data Visualization Award, sponsored by the University Libraries.
The visual arts and performance categories will also feature a $100 People’s Choice Award, voted on by event attendees and sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Student Association.
Penn State alumni, faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and members of the public are encouraged to register as judges to help students refine their research communication skills. Information on judging opportunities is available on the exhibition website.
More information about the 2026 Graduate Exhibition, including registration details and deadlines, is available on the Graduate Exhibition website.