January 2026
Editor's Note
Burr! The cold weather and the bleak landscapes can really make you feel like doing nothing but cuddle in a blanket with a warm beverage. Of course those of you in warmer regions are finally comfortable as the weather drops from scorching to nice.
Whether you are cold or comfortably warm, this time of year is one where we can all appreciate the opportunity to make some positive changes.
I am happy to announce that there are plenty of fantastic changes coming your way with zFairs this new year, including the addition of an app to use for your event!
We want all of you to know that we appreciate you and everything you do for your communities. We are so proud to be your choice of event management software, and we will continue to strive to make it the best choice. Thank you!
A heartfelt welcome to our new clients as of January 2026!
North Dakota Science and
2026 K-12 Regional
St. Louis Science Fair
TEAM NOTES
As I mentioned in on the first page, we have some exciting news!
zFairs will soon have a mobile app that can be used with your event!
We noticed that several of our clients were paying to have an app developed with another company to be used on the day of their event. We wanted to make it easier for your participants and other users to have access to the same information in zFairs and make an app that can be customized for your event day.
We are adding all sorts of features like live updates, maps, group messaging and more! If you are interested in adding a personlized app for your event, reach out to support!
NEW & IMPROVED
Here is what we worked on this month!
- Users/Participants can remove input on filled out interactive forms that have been saved/submitted.
- Comments in Paperwork review now have name stamp shown (who made the comment, not just when the comment was made).
- All Settings now has several new features. (NOTE: this is still in the works to be perfected!!)
- Search has been updated to allow for better results.
- Clicking into the “i” not only defines what that config does, but now you can operate the config from within the “i” and see associated configs.
- Nag reminder for participants who need to complete paperwork now works for new custom packets.
- You can now clear your flex flow when you archive/ refresh your event.
- Tailored Feedback Responses: Build specific feedback types for unique project features. Once collected, you can manage and edit these responses directly in the Feedback Manager, just like standard comments.
- Precision Scoring with Penalties: Do you need to deduct points for rule violations or late submissions? Custom rubrics allow you to create negative/penalty scores that automatically subtract from the total rather than adding to it.
- Specialized Judging Rounds: If your event has multiple stages, you can assign unique rubrics to different types of judges. For example, use one rubric for "Accuracy Judges" and a completely different one for "Performance Judges".
Updates:
zFairs TIP: Creating Rubrics
Every event is unique, and your judging process should reflect that. While standard rubrics work for many, creating custom rubrics allows you to tailor the evaluation process to your specific needs.
In this article, we’ll explore how custom rubrics can elevate your event's judging experience. For a step-by-step technical guide, you can watch our video tutorial on YouTube.
Custom rubrics offer flexibility beyond simple point-scoring. Here are three powerful ways they can work for you:
Beyond these features, custom rubrics help ensure consistency across your judging pool and provide participants with more granular, meaningful data on their performance.
Need a hand? If you have a specific vision for your rubric but aren't sure how to build it in the system, our team is here to help! Reach out to us at Support@zFairs.com and we can walk you through it.
January 2026 zfairs.com | 800.252.0903 | Support@zFairs.com