Kickoff and StarterBot Resources
September 12, 2025
Summer is flying by, and that means the new FIRST® Tech Challenge season is almost here! Whether you're a returning veteran team or brand new to the program, now is the perfect time to start marking your calendars. From now through September, there's a steady stream of milestones leading right up to Kickoff and into the season! Gather your team, grab your planner, and let's dig into what's ahead. All participants can view key dates for the full season here.
What Has Already Happened:
Things kicked into gear a few weeks ago:
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FTC Scoring Event Requests Open — Event partners were able to start to get 2026-2027 season events in the system.
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2026-2027 Events Pages Go Live — Teams can start scoping out where they'll compete this season.
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FTC Software Development Kit (SDK) Summer Release — Get a head start on your robot code before the game is even revealed.
July 29: BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX Starts to Fly
On July 29, the FTC Events page officially defaulted to the BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX season, so all things new-season will now be front and center.
This is also when the Competition Manual (CM) Preview was released, giving teams and mentors a first look at what's coming this season. You can read more about this year’s Competition Manual in this blog post.
August 17: Region Determination
This is the last date for regions to be counted for FIRST Championship and FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Event capacity-based advancement — event partners, keep this one on your radar.
September 11: End of the 2025-2026 Off-Season
Last day for an offseason event for 2025-2026 DECODE™ presented by RTX. One final chance to keep last season's momentum going.
September 12: Kickoff
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September 12 — FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff!* The moment teams have been waiting for. The new game is revealed, and the season officially begins. Visit the game and season page for details to find an in-person kickoff event near you or sign up now for a tune in reminder for the live stream on the FIRST Tech Challenge YouTube channel.
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September 12 — FTC Scoring Event Configuration also opens this day.
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Kickoff Week — The FTC SDK Release and the FTC Live Preview Release (Beta) both arrive, giving teams the tools they need to start building and coding right away.
Mid to Late September: Momentum Builds
The excitement doesn't stop at Kickoff:
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September 14 — Nominations open for the FIRST Leadership Award. If you know a standout team leader in 10th or 11th grade, start thinking about who deserves the nod.
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September 17 — Volunteer Training becomes available. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of this program, and there's no better time to get ready to give back.
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September 28 — Team Q&A and Volunteer Q&A both open for the BIOBUZZ season. Got questions about the game or your role this year? This is the place to ask.
Why It Matters
Every one of these dates is a building block toward an incredible season of teamwork, innovation, and discovery. Staying ahead of these deadlines means less scrambling and more time to focus on what really matters — designing, building, and celebrating with your team.
So save the dates, spread the word to your teammates and mentors, and get ready to kick off what's shaping up to be another unforgettable FIRST Tech Challenge season. We can't wait to see what you build!
Have questions about any of these dates? Reach out to your local FIRST Partner or keep an eye on the FIRST Tech Challenge Blog and Facebook page for the latest updates.