Nerdvember 2026 Contest: Inside Edition
/Nerdly has been getting away with something for years, and it is time to come clean. Did you know our little red mascot has always been a slightly “illegal” build? It’s true. Building the glasses sideways leaves a small gap underneath because of that pesky raised LEGO logo (and LEGO isn’t going to remove those anytime soon, as much as we might joke).
In addition, the black curved piece for the corners of the glasses has been retired and replaced with a version that is one plate shorter. One plate may sound like a small change, but try telling that to someone whose glasses are most of their face.
So for this Nerdvember, we gave Nerdly a total rebuild. Say hello to the redesigned and fully legal new Nerdly! In addition to removing the glasses gap through some ingenious clip work and a rotated window, we’ve reinforced the sides of the glasses that were a weak spot in previous Nerdlies using an embedded 2L bar for stability. The new instructions and parts lists are below, but while we were reworking the build, we spotted another opportunity staring us in our bespectacled faces.…
New Nerdly is hollow! The top lifts right off, turning our mascot into a little box. After high fantasy, survival, animation and a much-needed vacation, we finally get to ask: What’s inside Nerdly? Welcome to Nerdvember 2026: Inside Edition!
Three Ways to Build
Once we lifted the lid, we realized one category wouldn’t be enough. You can see what actually fits inside Nerdly, build what you imagine is happening in there, or make something that spills out. Pick the one that makes you reach for your bricks, or try all three! We’re taking ‘inside joke’ very literally this year.
1. Inside the Box
What can you fit inside the new Nerdly? Start with the hollow model in our instructions and build something that fits entirely inside with the lid closed. You have roughly 3×4 studs and three bricks of height to work with, with a little extra clearance at the front and back thanks to a panel and a slope.
Maybe there’s a tiny arcade in there, or an entire microscale castle scene. It could be a single hidden object you can remove, or maybe it opens up like a transformer. The challenge is to keep Nerdly at the original 6×6 size. (And if you want to use the illegal version for a bit more room, we’re granting amnesty.)
2. Bigger on the Inside
For this category, imagine what’s going on inside Nerdly at any scale. Maybe Nerdly is full of gears and switches, or there’s a team of minifigures at a control panel deciding what to write about next. Maybe there is nothing but clouds inside or a big brain. Who knows?
We’re asking you to build a scene or object that shows what’s happening inside Nerdly. You could build your own version of Nerdly with a removable side, make a cutaway, or find another way to show us what’s within. Make the connection to Nerdly clear and let the interior tell the story, but you can make it at any scale.
3. Inside Out
What happens when the build won’t stay inside? Use the Nerdly as the base for something that bursts out! Think of a tree growing out of the opening, a dice tower, or flowers turning Nerdly into a vase. Maybe a pencil holder so Nerdly never loses a pen again! Maybe make Nerdly into a popcorn bucket
You can build at any scale. Keep Nerdly recognizable and use the opening or the container as part of the idea. Show us what happens when what’s inside becomes part of the outside.
How to Build the New Nerdly
The square part is pretty obvious, but the bit with the glasses is a little tricky. Here are the downloadable PDF instructions or follow the images below.
We’ve also put together a parts list at LEGO Pick a Brick with everything already selected for you, though you will have to confirm quantities.
Prizes to be Won
This year’s prizes are packed with goodies!
First-place winners in each category will get $75 in LEGO, a Golden Nerdly trophy (that’s right, we are giving away THREE), and a special Herschel × LEGO prize with room to stash a few things of your own inside.
Inside the Box Winner: Settlement Pencil Case Little Herschel – Abstract Bricks Blue and Herschel Chapter Travel Kit – Monogram Black
Bigger on the Inside Winner: Herschel Heritage Tote – Monogram Black
Inside Out Winner: Herschel Classic XL Backpack – Abstract Bricks Black
Second-place winners in each category will receive $50 in LEGO, and third-place winners will receive $25 in LEGO. All amounts are in U.S. dollars or the local equivalent.
Enter All Three for a Bonus Prize
Build something for all three categories and you’ll also be eligible for a BrickNerd swag box with a mystery LEGO set tucked inside. (At this point, we can’t be trusted around an empty box.) We’ll draw one winner from everyone who enters all three categories.
Judging Criteria and How to Enter
If you need a little inspiration, take a look at the past Nerdvember contests. Remember, we are looking for several key things in your photos/builds:
Concept: Is the idea clever, tells a story, and play with the idea of “inside” in a way that fits the category?
Quality & Presentation: Is the creation built/photographed well and composed in a way that enhances the overall creation?
Nerdiness: Does the creation have a balance of Nerdly features that clearly convey the BrickNerd mascot (color, shape, studs, glasses, etc.)?
You have until Sunday, January 10th, 2027 to post your Inside Nerdly builds. Entries should be submitted via Google form (coming soon) and posted in the Nerdvember 2026 Flickr group or on Instagram tagging @bricknerdofficial using the hashtags #Nerdvember2026 #BrickNerd and #Nerdly. The form will help us track entries and give proper credit for linking.
Nerdvember 2026 Official Rules
Entries must be inspired by Nerdly and be “inside” themed or something related and witty.
The contest will be judged by BrickNerd contributors who will evaluate entries based on concept (is the idea cleve), quality (is the creation built well), presentation (is the scene composed and photographed in a way that enhances the creation), and nerdiness (does the creation have a balance of Nerdly features that clearly convey the BrickNerd mascot).
Entries should be submitted via Google form (coming soon) and posted in the Nerdvember 2026 Flickr group or on Instagram tagging @bricknerdofficial using the hashtags #Nerdvember2026 #BrickNerd and #Nerdly. If you don’t have a Google account, please email your submission to dave@bricknerd.com.
The contest ends on Sunday, January 10th, 2027 at 11:59 pm PST (7:59 am GMT on Jan. 11th for the Europeans). Winners will be announced a few weeks later.
Please only submit one file for each entry (extras will be removed). If you upload an Instagram gallery, please make the first image the one you want to be judged.
All entries must be new creations. Entries may be updated as long as the contest is still open. You may enter as many times as you want with unique creations. A single builder can win multiple prizes.
Digital renders are allowed, though the creation must be structurally sound and all the pieces must be available physically. Custom, modified and unavailable recolored bricks are not allowed this time around.
These rules and the prizes may be modified at any point, and prizes may be substituted for comparable items depending on the winner’s location.
Are you excited for Nerdvember? Let the extreme nerdiness begin! Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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