# Makridakis Forecasting Competitions

A series of international data-driven forecasting competitions advancing methods in time-series prediction and uncertainty estimation.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Makridakis Open Forecasting Center (MOFC) |
| Category | stem |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | Online / virtual |
| Location | Anywhere (online) |
| Apply | https://mofc.unic.ac.cy/mcompetition/ |

## About this program

The **Makridakis Competitions (M-Competitions)** are a renowned series of international forecasting contests founded by Professor Spyros Makridakis. These competitions (M, M2, M3, M4, and M5) focus on comparing and improving forecasting methods using large-scale, real-world datasets, often from business, economics, and retail. They have had major impact on the fields of statistics, machine learning, and decision science.

Makridakis Competitions are not specifically designed for high school students; they are primarily targeted at researchers, data scientists, academics, and practitioners in forecasting, statistics, and machine learning. Highly advanced knowledge of programming, statistics, and time-series modeling is typically required. Motivated high school students with strong quantitative and coding skills could follow results, read related papers, and learn from the open data and methodology, but they should view the competitions more as a professional-level opportunity and learning resource rather than a typical high school competition. Benefits include exposure to state-of-the-art forecasting techniques, benchmark datasets, and influential research shaping how forecasting is used in industry and academia.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Makridakis Forecasting Competitions cost?

Makridakis Forecasting Competitions is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for Makridakis Forecasting Competitions?

Makridakis Forecasting Competitions is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Makridakis Forecasting Competitions online or in person?

Makridakis Forecasting Competitions is fully online — students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection.

### How do I apply to Makridakis Forecasting Competitions?

Apply directly through Makridakis Open Forecasting Center (MOFC)'s official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-04.
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