Back 2 Viz Basics


About the project

Back 2 Viz Basics (B2VB) is a bi-weekly data visualization challenge designed to help you build, refine, and practice core visualization skills. Whether you're new to Tableau or looking for a structured way to refresh your skills, B2VB offers engaging prompts to guide your learning. Each challenge encourages you to explore chart types, design best practices, and data storytelling, all while engaging with a supportive community.


How it works

Every other Monday, we release a new challenge and dataset. You have two weeks to complete the challenge, submit your viz, and share it with the community. Then the cycle repeats.

How to participate

  • Follow us on X, LinkedIn, BlueSky, or the Tableau Community Slack Channel so you will be notified when we post the weekly challenges.

  • Check the latest challenge details in the table below.

  • Download the dataset directly from our challenge table below.

  • Build your viz in Tableau or your visualization tool of choice.

  • Submit your viz via our tracking form to log your progress and track your personal challenge completion.

  • Share your work on social media using the hashtag #B2VB and tag us or our B2VB pages.

What You’ll Learn

  • Chart selection and design best practices

  • Formatting, color choices, and storytelling

  • Data exploration and analysis techniques

  • Presenting data insights in a clear, engaging way

B2VB Tableau Community Learning Initiative

New to Tableau? Learn how to build 5 basic charts: Bar, Line, Scatterplot, Map and Pie/Donut by following step-by-step instructions, and publish your first dashboard with our guided workbook resource.

Tips & Tricks

Tips for charts and techniques for our different Back 2 Viz Basics challenges (started in 2024). Check out Shreya’s website for more!

Beyond the Basics blog

Explore the design, storytelling, and strategy behind great visualizations. In each post, Victory Omovrah breaks down a standout viz to help you better understand the choices that create clear, impactful data stories.


2026 Challenges

Week Number Release Date Topic Data Collaboration / Recognition Dataset
Week 1 January 12 Build a Bar Chart WEF Youth Insights Report
Week 2 January 26 Build a Line Chart COVID-19 Impact on Airlines
Week 3 February 9 Build a Dot Plot Pet Populations
Week 4 February 23 Use a Shape 2026 Winter Olympics
Week 5 March 9 Build a Text Table Crunchyroll Top 50
Week 6 March 23 Build a Treemap 98th Academy Awards
Week 7 April 13 Make the Insight Clear U.S. Data Centers
Week 8 April 27 Visualize Rank San Diego Breweries 2026 Tableau Conference Edition
Week 9 May 11 Build a Scatterplot World's Top Vacation Destinations
Week 10 May 25 Build a Heatmap Canadian Sea Turtle Records
Week 11 June 8 Build a Timeline Pride History LGBTQ+ (Data Pride) TUG Collab
Week 12 June 22 Build a Map 2026 FIFA World Cup
Week 13 July 6
Week 14 July 20
Week 15 August 3
Week 16 August 17
Week 17 August 31
Week 18 September 14
Week 19 September 28
Week 20 October 12
Week 21 October 26
Week 22 November 9
Week 23 November 23
Week 24 December 7
Week 25 December 21

Submission Tracker

SUGGESTION BOX

Is there a topic you’d like to focus on or get more practice in? Do you have a data set that you’d like us to use for a future challenge? Drop a suggestion, data set, or link to something that you’d like us to incorporate in the form below: