The Cornell Linguistics Department is a local host site for NACLO, the North American Computational Linguistics Open competition. NACLO is a contest in which high-school students solve linguistic puzzles. In solving these puzzles, students learn about the diversity and consistency of language, while exercising logic skills. No prior knowledge of linguistics or second languages is necessary. In previous years, we have had between 10 and 25 participants: high schoolers, middle schoolers and home schoolers from across the county. Each year, we expand our recruitment efforts to increase participation.

Cornell will be a local host of NACLO for the 2026 competition. Key dates:

• October 2025: Registration for 2026 competition opens here.
• January 2X (TBD), 2026: Cornell University Information Session: 10am-12pm, Morrill Hall 106
• January 29, 2026: Open Round, 9:45am-1:00pm, Alice Cook House, Cornell University. Further information about the contest and venue can be found here.
• March 19, 2026: Invitational Round, Location/time: TBD

Please see this document for a map to the open round contest venue.

Please email any questions to LinguisticsOutreach@cornell.edu