2026 Event Updates
September 24, 2025
Now that team registration is open for the 2026-2027 FIRST® Robotics Competition season, I’m excited to announce a few changes to event registration that we’re implementing for BIOCORETM presented by Haas. The goals with these event additions and registration changes are to:
- Reduce the travel burden for teams to get to events,
- Increase the capacity of Regional event play opportunities, and
- Prioritize access to in-country events as part of Round 1 of event registration.
Round 1 of BIOCORE event preferencing is currently scheduled to start on September 24, 2026.
New Events
We have a goal of adding several new events outside the United States in 2027, including a new Regional Event in the Netherlands. We also hope to bring back the events that did not occur in 2026. More details on new and returning events will be shared closer to when event registration opens in September.
Regional Teams at District Events
New this year, Regional teams will be able to play at District events. The registration fee for these events is $1000. Regional teams can begin registering for District events as part of Inter-District Registration, which begins on November 5, 2026.
Regional teams competing at District events will follow the same restrictions as District teams competing at Regional events or at District events outside their home District. Regional teams competing at District events will not be able to directly advance to FIRST Championship, earn Regional Points, or be eligible for Cultural Awards (FIRST Impact Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, Rookie All-Star Award, FIRST Leadership Award, or Woodie Flowers Finalist Award).
This change is primarily being made to allow Regional teams who are on the border of a District to have access to events that are geographically closer to them. All teams that register for a District event who are outside the District will be placed on the waitlist for the event until the Partner adds them. District Partners may choose not to add teams from outside the District to the District event. If you have questions about an event’s capacity, please contact the District leadership.
Round 1 In-Country Event Registration
Beginning in the 2026-2027 season, teams will be required to register for an event in their home country (if one exists) as part of Round 1 of Event Preferencing. Teams who do not have a home event in their country may register for any Regional event. This change is being implemented to help prioritize giving local teams access to events without relying on large event waitlists.