Are there any eligibility requirements for Test Design Contest '26?

Eligibility varies by class. The OPEN class is open to everyone without restrictions, while the U-30 class is limited to participants 30 years old or younger.

What is the schedule for the contest?

Entry applications are accepted from May 14, 2026, to July 20, 2026. The OPEN class preliminary round is scheduled for October 3, and the U-30 class preliminary round is planned for mid-September. The final round will be held on January 23, 2027.

How much does it cost to participate?

The participation fee for corporate and school entity teams is 55,000 yen (tax included). For general teams, the OPEN class fee is 7,700 yen (tax included), and the U-30 class fee is 5,500 yen (tax included). All classes allow up to 8 participants per team.

What are the benefits of participating in the contest?

Participants can improve practical skills, rediscover creativity in testing tasks, and gain opportunities for team building and nurturing young talent. Additionally, past finalists' work products are provided as participation perks.

ASTER, or the Nonprofit Organization for the Promotion of Software Testing Technology, was established in 2006. It is an NPO that conducts education, research, and promotion activities to enhance software quality.

Enhance Team Technical Skills! Registration Opens for 'Test Design Contest '26' to Compete in Japan's Top-Class Testing Technology

Published May 25, 2026 11:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 12:03 AM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

Registration has opened for the 'Test Design Contest '26' hosted by ASTER, a tech competition for software test engineers. Featuring OPEN and U-30 divisions, participants receive previous finalists' work as a benefit.

The Software Testing Technology Promotion Association (ASTER), a non-profit organization, announced the start of registration on May 14, 2026, for the 'Test Design Contest '26,' an annual event aimed at allowing software test engineers to compete and share their test design skills.

This event, which has been held since 2011, will be conducted in two divisions: the 'OPEN class,' with no eligibility requirements, and the 'U-30 class,' for young engineers aged 30 and under.

Three Benefits of Participating

The contest provides the following values to participating engineers and companies:

Acquisition of Practical Skills: Challenging oneself with test analysis and design under constraints different from daily work expands the toolkit of a test engineer and serves as an educational opportunity.

Rediscovery of the Joy of Testing: Experience that testing is a creative and fun task through a competitive format.

Team Building and Junior Development: Improving skills while enjoying the process with colleagues leads to overall improvement in QA departments and increases motivation for young staff.

Schedule

Registration Period: May 14, 2026 – July 20, 2026

Qualifying Rounds: OPEN Class: October 3, 2026 (Online National Qualifying) U-30 Class: Mid-September 2026 (Document Screening)

Finals: OPEN & U-30 Classes: January 23, 2027

Division Overview

OPEN Class: Open to everyone regardless of qualifications. U-30 Class: Limited to those aged 30 and under.

Fees and Benefits

All participating teams will receive the artifacts of the teams that reached the finals in the previous contest.

Corporate/Educational Team: 55,000 JPY per team (tax included, max 8 members).

General Team: OPEN Class: 7,700 JPY per team (tax included, max 8 members). U-30 Class: 5,500 JPY per team (tax included, max 8 members).

How to Apply Please apply through the official contest website. URL: https://aster.or.jp/testcontest/

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: Event

Enhance Team Technical Skills! Registration Opens for 'Test Design Contest '26' to Compete in Japan's Top-Class Testing Technology

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