Top 11 Robotics Competitions for High School Students in 2025-2026

According to Precedence Research, the robotics technology market is expected to hit $416.26 billion by 2035. As robotics expands into manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and AI, many students build these skills through competitions in which they design, build, and program robots to solve challenges.

Joining a robotics competition can also strengthen your college application, especially if you’re interested in engineering or computer science. This guide covers the top robotics competitions for high school students, how each one works, and how to choose the right one for you.

• What Are the Best Robotics Competitions for High School Students?
• FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
• FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
• VEX V5 Robotics Competition (VRC)
• Zero Robotics
• World Robot Olympiad (WRO)
• MATE ROV Competition
• National Robotics Challenge (NRC)
• Botball Educational Robotics Program
• BEST Robotics Competition
• RoboGames
• RoboRAVE International
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Robotics Competitions for High School Students?

Robotics competitions allow you to design, build, and program robots while learning skills used in technical fields. Below, you’ll find 11 of the best robotics competitions for high school students, with key details on each program’s location and dates to help you compare your options quickly.

Let’s discuss each program one by one.

1. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

• Dates: Nov 18, 2025 (Registration); Jan 10, 2026 (Season kickoff); Feb 21, 2026 (Week Zero Scrimmage); Mar 4–Apr 19, 2026 (Regional & district competitions); Apr 29–May 2, 2026 (FIRST Championship 2026)
• Location: Local, regional, and district events worldwide; FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas
• Prizes: FIRST Impact Award, Dean’s List Award, Woodie Flowers Award, and other team and technical awards

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is one of the largest and most competitive robotics competitions for high school students. Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, FRC challenges teams to design, build, and program full-sized robots to compete in games that change each year.

The 2025–2026 FRC game is REBUILT™, a new challenge that focuses on rebuilding and reimagining the past. Teams usually have about six weeks to design, build, and test their robot before competitions begin. They then compete at local, regional, or district events, and top teams qualify for the FIRST Championship, which will be held in Houston, Texas, in 2026.

To join, students must be in grades 9–12 and form a team (usually 10-25 students) with at least one adult mentor who guides them through design, programming, and competition.

For more details on eligibility and how to apply, read our complete guide to the FIRST Robotics Competition.

2. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)

• Dates: May 2025 (Registration opens); Sep 6, 2025 (Season kickoff); Oct 2025–Mar 2026 (Competition season); Dec 2025–Mar 2026 (State & regional championships); Apr 29–May 2, 2026 (FIRST Championship)
• Location: Local, regional, and district events worldwide; FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas
• Prizes: FIRST Dean’s List, Innovate Award sponsored by RTX, and other team and technical awards

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a team-based robotics competition run by the same organization as the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). In FTC, students design, build, and program smaller robots to compete in a new game released each September.

FTC is beginner-friendly and open to students with no prior robotics experience. Most teams include about 8–12 students in grades 7–12 and are guided by two adult lead coaches who guide the team throughout the season. Teams can also work with additional mentors, such as parents, teachers, engineers, or FIRST alumni, who provide extra support and guidance.

Teams usually spend 8 to 12 weeks designing and building their robot before competing in local qualifying tournaments. Top teams then advance to state or regional championships, and the best performers move on to the FIRST Championship.

For the 2025–2026 season, FTC teams will compete in DECODE™, a new challenge focused on uncovering and interpreting powerful artifacts through robot-based tasks.

If you want to learn more about how the competition works, check out our blog on the FIRST Tech Challenge.

3. VEX V5 Robotics Competition (VRC)

• Dates: May 1, 2025 (Season launch); May 6, 2025 (Registration); Aug 2025–Feb 2026 (Local qualifying events); Mar 2026 (State & regional championships); Apr 23–May 2, 2026 (VEX Robotics World Championship)
• Location: Local, regional, and district events worldwide; VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas
• Prizes: Team and individual awards for performance, design, and teamwork, plus world-level titles like Overall World Champion and Skills Champion

The VEX V5 Robotics Competition (VRC) is a hands-on robotics program where middle school and high school students design, build, and program robots to compete in fast-paced, head-to-head matches.

Each season, VEX releases a new game challenge with its own rules, scoring system, and field setup. Teams use the VEX V5 system to design their robot, write code, and plan strategies. Over several months, teams test and refine their designs before competing in local, regional, and national tournaments. Top teams qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship.

To be eligible, students must be between 11 and 18 years old, attend an accredited middle or high school, and be part of a registered team through a school, club, or community organization. Each team needs at least one adult mentor or coach for supervision, but students handle most of the design, coding, and decision-making themselves.

For the 2025–2026 season, teams will compete in a game called Push Back. Matches are played on a square field with two teams on each side. Robots score points by moving blocks into goals, controlling field areas, and parking in designated zones before the match ends.

To learn more about other VEX divisions, read our detailed guide to the VEX Robotics Competition.

4. Zero Robotics

• Dates: Nov 21, 2025 (Last day of registration); Jan–Feb 2026 (Online competition rounds); Feb 21, 2026 (ISS finals)
• Location: Online simulation rounds; finals at MIT and broadcast live from the International Space Station (ISS)
• Prizes: Individual and team awards, plus special recognition for ISS finalists and Hall of Orbit honors for consistent excellence across multiple seasons

Zero Robotics is a programming-based robotics competition designed by MIT and NASA. Instead of building physical robots, students write code to control small satellites called SPHERES aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Teams start by solving the annual challenge in an online simulation that mirrors how the robots move in space. After several virtual rounds, top teams advance to the finals, where their code is tested live aboard the ISS by an astronaut in microgravity and broadcast publicly.

The high school tournament is open to students in grades 9–12 and typically runs from September to December. It’s an international competition open to teams from the U.S. and member countries of the European Space Agency. Participation is free, and teams only need 5–20 students, one mentor, and an online account to register and get started.

If you want to explore this program more deeply, check out our complete guide to Zero Robotics.

5. World Robot Olympiad (WRO)

• Dates: Sept 25–27, 2026 (Open Championship Americas & Asia Pacific); Oct 13–26, 2026 (Open Championship Europe); Dec 8–10, 2026 (International Final)
• Location: Ontario, California (Open Championship Americas); City TBD, India (Open Championship Asia Pacific); Zagreb, Croatia (Open Championship Europe); San Juan, Puerto Rico (International Final)
• Prizes: Gold, silver, and bronze medals, trophies, and certificates, plus special sponsor awards such as the Aramco Innovation Award

The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) is one of the largest international robotics competitions for high school students. It focuses on hands-on challenges where teams design, build, and program robots to solve technical problems.

WRO has four main competition categories:

• RoboMission. Build and program a robot to complete challenges on a game field.
• RoboSports. Design two robots that compete directly against another team’s robots.
• Future Innovators. Create a robotics project that solves a real-world problem.
• Future Engineers. Work on advanced robotics challenges based on current research trends.

Teams first compete in regional and national events organized in their own countries. Winning teams then qualify for international championships, including the 2026 International Final in San Juan, Puerto Rico, scheduled for December.

The 2026 theme, “Robots Meet Culture,” asks teams to explore how robots can help support art, traditions, and cultural heritage while contributing to modern communities.

To join, you should be between the ages of 8 and 19 and register through your country’s official national organizer before the season begins.

6. MATE ROV Competition

• Dates: Dec 1, 2025–May 12, 2026 (Registration); Spring 2026 (Regional competitions); Jun 25–27, 2026 (World Championship)
• Location: Regional competitions held worldwide; World Championship at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
• Prizes: Trophies, cash, and sponsor prizes, plus special awards such as the Martin Klein MATE MARINER Award and Oceaneering Safety Award

The MATE ROV Competition is an underwater robotics program where students design and build remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to complete ocean-themed missions. Teams create underwater machines to inspect structures, collect objects, and solve problems.

To participate, you’ll join a team of at least three students and one adult mentor. Your team then registers for one of five competition classes based on your experience and skill level:

• Scout. For beginners in elementary, middle school, and high school who are new to robotics.
• Navigator. For middle and high school teams with some robotics experience and basic electrical knowledge.
• Ranger. For middle and high school students with strong robotics experience, including electronics and sensors.
• Pioneer. For first-time community college and university teams building complex underwater vehicles.
• Explorer. The most advanced level for colleges and high schools with prior MATE ROV experience.

Top teams qualify for the 2026 World Championship, which will be held in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, in June.

7. National Robotics Challenge (NRC)

• Dates: Feb 27, 2026 (Registration deadline); Apr 16–18, 2026 (2026 NRC)
• Location: Marion, Ohio
• Prizes: Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, plus special awards such as the Honda Innovation Award and Hannemann Service Award

The National Robotics Challenge (NRC) is one of the longest-running robotics competitions in the U.S. It brings together students from around the world to design, build, and program robots that complete specific engineering tasks.

What makes NRC different from many other competitions is its open-platform format. There’s no required kit or standard set of parts. Teams choose their own materials, sensors, components, and software based on the challenge they enter, which could be any of the following:

• Additive Manufacturing Challenge
• Autonomous Vehicle Challenge (AVC)
• Box Bot
• Combat Robot (Antweight-Plastic, Beetleweight)
• Manufacturing Workcell
• Micromouse Contest
• Mini-Sumo
• Rescue Robot
• Robo Hockey
• Robo Maze Contest
• Robo Problem Solving
• Sumo Robot

Teams are placed into divisions based on the academic level of the most senior team member. These include elementary, middle school, high school, and post-secondary divisions, but all teams compete at the same in-person event.

The 2026 National Robotics Challenge will be held April 16–18, 2026, in Marion, Ohio.

If you want to learn more about how the competition works and how to prepare, read our complete guide to the National Robotics Challenge.

8. Botball Educational Robotics Program

• Dates: Jan–Mar 2026 (Botball Educator Workshops); Mar–May 2026 (Regional tournaments); July 14–18, 2026 (Global Conference on Educational Robotics)
• Location: Regional tournaments held nationwide; Global Conference on Educational Robotics (GCER) in Norman, Oklahoma
• Prizes: Trophies, medals, category awards for design and programming, and occasional scholarships or educational grants

In Botball, students build and program fully autonomous robots to complete tasks on a game board. Robots must navigate, move objects, and respond to their environment using sensors and code with no remote control during matches.

The program is also open to middle school and college students, and in some regions, students can join as independent teams without being part of a school or organization.

Each season begins with educator workshops from January to March, where teachers and mentors learn the year’s challenge. Students then have about seven weeks to design, build, and program their robots before competing in regional tournaments.

Top teams advance to the Global Conference on Educational Robotics, which will be held in Norman, Oklahoma, in July 2026.

9. BEST Robotics

• Dates: Exact competition dates vary by hub
• Location: Local hubs across the U.S.
• Prizes: Category awards including Overall Performance, Marketing Presentation, Notebook, Team Exhibit, and Spirit & Sportsmanship

BEST Robotics is a national robotics contest that focuses on hands-on engineering and problem-solving. Teams follow the engineering design process to plan, build, test, and present their robots, while also learning practical skills in coding, fabrication, and technical communication.

The season begins in late September and runs for about six weeks. Teams receive the year’s challenge and build kit on kickoff day, then design and build their robot while preparing required project materials such as presentations. After the build period, teams compete at their local hub, and top teams advance to a regional competition several weeks later.

You can find the official competition schedule and important dates on the BEST Robotics website, since timelines vary by local hub. The 2026 season dates haven’t been released yet, so it’s best to check the site regularly or reach out to your local hub for updates.

10. RoboGames

• Dates: 2026 dates TBA
• Location: TBA (previous competition was held in San Jose, California)
• Prizes: Gold, silver, and bronze medals

RoboGames is the world’s largest open robot competition, meaning anyone can participate as long as they meet the event requirements. Students, hobbyists, and professional teams compete in more than 50 different robot events. These include combat robots, firefighting robots, LEGO-based robots, robot hockey, humanoid robots, soccer robots, sumo robots, and even robots designed to perform martial arts.

The 16th annual RoboGames was held in San Jose, California, last April 2024. As of now, there has been no official announcement for a 2026 RoboGames event, so it’s best to check the competition’s official website for the latest updates.

11. RoboRAVE International

• Dates: Feb 26–27, 2026 (China Open); Mar 13–15, 2026 (Thailand Open); Mar 28–29, 2026 (Greece – Europe Open); Apr 28–29, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Open); July 3–4, 2026 (Egypt Open); Aug 11–12, 2026 (World Championships)
• Location: Various international open events worldwide; World Championships in Osaka, Japan
• Prizes: Cash prizes, awards, and special recognition such as Outstanding Creativity (highest honor), Outstanding Presentation, Outstanding Collaboration, and Onsite Performance

RoboRAVE International is a robotics competition where students learn how to design, build, program, and test robots to complete a variety of challenges. Teams compete in different events that measure how well their robots perform specific tasks.

It’s an open-platform competition, so teams can use any robot design and any programming language or software. Teams consist of 2 to 4 students (ages 8 and up), one robot, and one coach.

RoboRAVE offers a wide range of competition events that test different robotics skills:

• a-MAZE-ing. Program a robot to complete an elevated maze as fast as possible.
• AlpineBot. Build an autonomous robot that climbs a ramp and places a flag at the top.
• Entrepreneurial. Create and pitch a working robotic product to event attendees.
• Fire Fighting. Program a robot to find and extinguish candles autonomously.
• Jousting. Build a line-following robot that knocks an opponent’s knight off.
• Lighter Than Air Vehicle. Design and fly an autonomous lighter-than-air robot.
• Line Following. Program a robot to follow a line and deliver ping-pong balls.
• SumoBot. Build a robot that pushes opponents out of the ring.
• RoboEthics. Present arguments on ethical issues in robotics.

For the latest 2026 event schedule, we recommend checking RoboRAVE’s official website. Regional opens are already listed, and the World Championships are set to take place in Osaka, Japan, in August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can robotics competitions help with college applications?

Yes. They show colleges that you can work on long-term projects, solve technical problems, and collaborate in teams, which is especially valuable for students applying to competitive robotics engineering schools.

2. Do I need prior experience to join robotics competitions?

No. Many programs, such as the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and MATE ROV Competition, are designed for beginners and teach skills like coding and robot building from the ground up.

3. Are these robotics competitions open to international students?

Yes. Most major competitions, such as the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), VEX V5 Robotics Competition (VRC), World Robot Olympiad (WRO), and RoboRAVE, accept teams from outside the U.S.

4. How competitive are robotics competitions for high school students?

It depends on the program. Some are highly competitive at the national or world level, while others focus more on learning and participation.

5. Which robotics competition is best for beginners?

Programs like FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), VEX Robotics Competition (VRC), Botball, and BEST Robotics are good starting points for students with little or no experience. They offer structured challenges and beginner-friendly rules to help new teams learn the basics of robotics.

Takeaways

• Robotics competitions for high school students help build skills in engineering, programming, and problem-solving, while giving you hands-on experience to highlight in college applications.
• Programs like the FIRST Robotics Competition, VEX Robotics Competition, and Zero Robotics are widely respected for their technical rigor and team-based challenges.
• Preparing for robotics competitions takes regular practice, strong debugging skills, and a willingness to learn from design and code failures.
• If you need help choosing the right competitions or improving your application, consider working with a college admissions consultant for personalized guidance and support.