City Nature Challenge 2026 — Indianapolis & Indiana

April 24–27, 2026

The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a global community science event where people work together to document urban wildlife. In April 2026, Indianapolis and communities across Indiana will join more than 600 cities worldwide in this friendly competition to explore, photograph, and record local biodiversity.

Sign up to get event reminders, local updates, and beginner tips:

You don’t need to be a scientist—just curious about nature where you live!

What Is the City Nature Challenge?

The City Nature Challenge is an international effort to:

  • Document plants, animals, fungi, and insects living in cities and towns
  • Create a snapshot of urban biodiversity that scientists can use now and in the future
  • Track how biodiversity is changing over time, especially as cities grow and climates shift

Participants use the free iNaturalist app or website to upload photos of organisms they find—whether that’s in a park, along a trail, or right outside their front door. Every observation counts!

What Do Participants Actually Do?

During April 24–27, you will:

  • Go outside (anywhere—backyard, park, campus, sidewalk)
  • Take photos of plants, animals, insects, or fungi you see
  • Upload your observations to iNaturalist
  • Help scientists and local communities better understand what lives in Indiana’s urban spaces

New to iNaturalist? We’ve got you covered!

Check out the Events section below for beginner-friendly trainings, guided walks, and opportunities to learn how to use iNaturalist and participate with confidence.

You can take part for 10 minutes or all weekend—every observation helps!

Where Can You Participate?

You can join from anywhere in Indiana, or plug into a specific local project. Visit the Facebook event to connect with other participants, ask questions, and join the conversation before and during the challenge.

INDIANAPOLIS

Event size is tracked via the event pages below, so please sign-up!

Anywhere in Indiana!

This event is one of the largest citizen science events in Hoosier history, so join the fun and help make history!

Join one—or more—projects on iNaturalist to make sure your observations count! These project pages track observations and participation throughout the event, so you can follow progress and discoveries as they happen.

Why It Matters

The City Nature Challenge is one of the largest community science events in Hoosier history. Together, participants help:

  • Build long-term datasets that can be used by researchers and conservationists
  • Reveal overlooked species living in urban environments
  • Inform future conservation, education, and planning efforts
  • Connect more deeply with nature

Events and Group Activities

Guided walks, programs, trainings, and other learning events will be added regularity so check back often!

Indianapolis Public Library’s City Nature Challenge Welcome to Nature Trainings!

The Indianapolis Public Library is hosting four opportunities to learn how to participate in the 2026 City Nature Challenge. Sign up now to ensure your spot!

Pike Branch | March 31 | 6pm-7:15pm | https://attend.indypl.org/event/15135946
Lawrence Branch | April 11 | 10:30am-11:45am | https://attend.indypl.org/event/15135940
Franklin Road Branch | April 13 | 6pm-7:15pm | https://attend.indypl.org/event/15135923
West Perry Branch | April 20 | 6pm-7:15pm | https://attend.indypl.org/event/15135924

Indy City Nature Challenge 2026 Partners

<Partner graphics coming soon!>

Support the City Nature Challenge

  • The Indianapolis City Nature Challenge is organized by un-paid volunteers and fiscally sponsored by the 501(c)3 non-profit Indiana Sciences. If you would like to support this effort, please consider donating at the link below:
  • If you enjoy events like the City Nature Challenge and would like to join our movement, please consider signing up on the form below to stay up to date and, if you are ambitious, join our team!
  • You can also support the event by purchasing merch from the shop! We currently have the locally designed “Science Will Unite Us” tees from United State of Indiana! All proceeds go to support our STEM events and programming throughout Indiana!

This event, and everything we do, is only possible due to the amazing support and generosity of Hoosiers passionate about science.  From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you!