Key DECODE presented by RTX Season Dates

The FIRST^® Tech Challenge DECODE™ presented by RTX season is approaching, and we want to help your team be as prepared as possible for all the upcoming excitement. We have some exciting changes this year and some new deadlines we want to help prepare you for. Gather your team and make sure to save these dates on your calendars.

• Dean’s List Award (Note that all regions have the same submission dates this year)
  • Submissions open September 6, 2025 
  • Closes December 15, 2025
  • Interview timeline is determined by the local partner. Finalists must be submitted to FIRST no later than February 15, 2026 (Finalists will not be published until locally announced) 
  • Regions can announce finalists at their regional championship events  
• Sept 6 –FIRST^® Tech Challenge DECODE™ presented by RTX Kickoff
• Kickoff Week –
  • DECODE Software (SDK) release with game specific tools 
  • Unofficial FTC Live DECODE scoring system release (Beta Release) 
  • FTC Scoring - Practice Scoring Calculator
• September 22 – Team Q&A opens (link to how to register here) 
• October 23 – Official FTC Scoring/FTC Live software available 
• October 27 
  • Earliest official advancing events 
  • All regional championship events should be available on ftc-events
  • Initial regional advancement numbers showing on ftc-events
• November 17 
  • Region size snapshot for determining FIRST(R) Championship and FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Event advancement numbers 
• December 1 
  • FIRST Championship and FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Events advancement numbers published on ftc-events 
  • Earliest dual division events 
  • Earliest regional championship events 
• March 15, 2026 – Last date for a regional championship event to receive FIRST Championship advancement 
• March 30 – final payment deadline for FIRST Championship 
  • FIRST Championship payment is a 2-week rolling deadline and includes housing. More details to come!
• April 29-May 2 – FIRST^® Championship, save the date! 
• May 1 – storefront closes, last day to use 2025-2026 grant funding