--- title: Key DECODE Presented by RTX Season Dates description: Stay updated with key dates and exciting changes for the upcoming FIRST® Tech Challenge DECODE™ season presented by RTX. Don't miss out on important deadlines and event announcements. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/advocacy/2021/pngkey.com-calendar-png-204081.png --- [![](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/first-horz-rgb-vector.svg)](https://community.firstinspires.org) [All *FIRST*® Posts ](https://community.firstinspires.org/all/) [*FIRST*® LEGO® League Blog](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/fll/) [*FIRST*® Tech Challenge Blog](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc/) [*FIRST*® Robotics Competition Blog](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc/) [Subscribe **](https://community.firstinspires.org/decode-season-dates#subscribe-form) ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [Season Updates](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/season-updates), [DECODE](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/decode) # Key DECODE Presented by RTX Season Dates ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) [by FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) • August 22, 2025 ![](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/advocacy/2021/pngkey.com-calendar-png-204081.png) 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. ![pngkey.com-calendar-png-204081](https://community.firstinspires.org/hs-fs/hubfs/advocacy/2021/pngkey.com-calendar-png-204081.png?width=388&height=321&name=pngkey.com-calendar-png-204081.png) - 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](https://www.firstinspires.org/find-local-support). Finalists must be submitted to *FIRST* no later than February 15, 2026 (Finalists will not be published until locally announced)  - Regions can announce finalists at their regional championship events   - Sept 6 –*FIRST*® Tech Challenge DECODE™ presented by RTX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 *FIRST* Tech Challenge Live DECODE scoring system release (Beta Release)  - *FIRST* Tech Challenge Scoring - Practice Scoring Calculator - September 22 – Team Q&A opens ([link to how to register here](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/web/program/ftc/team-qa-registration-instructions.pdf))  - October 23 – Official *FIRST* Tech Challenge Scoring/FTC Live software available  - October 27  - Earliest official advancing events  - All regional championship events should be available on [ftc-events](https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/#allevents) - Initial regional advancement numbers showing on [ftc-events](https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/#allevents) - November 17  - Region size snapshot for determining *FIRST*® 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](https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/#allevents)  - 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 ](https://www.firstchampionship.org/)*[Championship](https://www.firstchampionship.org/), save the date!  - May 1 – storefront closes, last day to use 2025-2026 grant funding   ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [Season Updates](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/season-updates), [DECODE](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/decode) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/decode-season-dates) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/decode-season-dates) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/decode-season-dates) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) These blog posts have been contributed by members of *FIRST* staff. *FIRST* is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, N.H. ### Related Posts ** [FTC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/ftc), [INTO THE DEEP](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/into-the-deep), [Premier Event](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/premier-event) Updated: Premier Event Waitlist Opportunity April 30, 2025 ** [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) 2017 Updates August 17, 2016 ** [FRC](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/frc) District Teams Attending Regionals August 22, 2016 [![FIRST Logo](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/first-horz-rgb-vector.svg)](https://community.firstinspires.org) - [About](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission) - [Contact](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/contact-us) - [Privacy](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/privacy-policy) - [Legal](https://www.firstinspires.org/about/legal-notices) - [Donate](https://www.firstinspires.org/donate?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=footer&utm_campaign=donation) [Firstinspires.org](https://firstinspires.org/) - [**](https://instagram.com/first_official_/) - [**](https://www.tiktok.com/@first_inspires) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/pages/FIRST-For-Inspiration-and-Recognition-of-Science-and-Technology/184063051616518) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/first_2) - [**](https://www.youtube.com/user/FIRSTWorldTube) © 2026 *FIRST*®. 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