World Robot Olympiad 2026
Join thousands of young innovators from 100+ countries in the world's premier robotics competition. Build, code, and compete.
Get official equipment in the USEL Store, then find an event to compete in. Each event handles its own registration.
2026 World Finals
Inspiring Young Innovators Worldwide
The World Robot Olympiad is more than just a competition - it's a global movement that inspires students to explore STEM through hands-on robotics challenges. Since 2004, WRO has grown from a small regional event to the world's premier youth robotics competition.
Path to the World Stage
How to qualify for the USA National Robotics Team and compete internationally.
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident for at least 24 months prior to qualification. Active National Registration required.
Affiliate Cup Pathway
One team per category and age group advances from the Affiliate Cup to represent the USA at international competitions.
Learn About the Affiliate Cup
School Championships
The School Pathway earns its own International Final spots through the USEL School National Championship, for USEL school partners.
Learn About the School PathwayHow International Final Spots Are Awarded
- Each pathway earns its spots independently. Spots are not shared between pathways.
- International Final spots are awarded by the WRO Association based on the WRO International qualification table.
Moments from WRO Events
See the excitement, creativity, and teamwork that defines the World Robot Olympiad experience.
Choose Your Challenge
Four unique categories designed to challenge different skills and interests. Find the perfect fit for your team.
RoboMission
WRO RoboMission is a challenge-based competition where students design, construct, and program an autonomous robot to solve specific challenges on a field. Because the field is set up randomly each round, the robot needs to make its own decisions during the run.
General Rules (All Age Groups)Elementary
Design and program an autonomous robot to solve challenges on a field. Perfect introduction to competitive robotics for younger students.
Junior
More complex challenges requiring advanced programming. Robots must make autonomous decisions during runs based on field conditions.
Senior
The most challenging missions requiring sophisticated robot design and advanced programming strategies for complex field scenarios.
RoboSports
WRO RoboSports is a fun and exciting game where two teams each have two autonomous robots on the field playing a sports game. The robot can be built from all materials with no limitation on motors, sensors, or cameras.
RoboSports - Double Tennis
Teams design two robots that compete against robots from another team in an exciting sports game format.
Future Innovators
Future Innovators is a project-based competition where students create their own innovative intelligent robotics solution relating to the current season theme.
General Rules (All Age Groups)Elementary
Create innovative robotics solutions to real-world problems. Present your project to judges in a booth setting.
Junior
Teams present their project and robot to judges who evaluate innovation, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving skills.
Senior
Advanced innovation projects with emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking and sophisticated technical solutions.
Future Engineers
WRO Future Engineers is an exciting category for older students that brings current research challenges into schools and teaches an engineering workflow for solving real-world problems.
Future Engineers
Develop self-driving car solutions that navigate a track with obstacles, demonstrating advanced autonomous vehicle concepts.
Build Real Skills for the Future
WRO participants develop critical skills in engineering, programming, problem-solving, and teamwork. These experiences prepare students for careers in STEM fields and give them a competitive edge in college applications.
Whether you're just starting out or ready for advanced challenges, WRO has a pathway for every skill level.
Shop WRO EquipmentThen find an event to compete in. Each event handles its own registration.
WRO 2026 Season Rules & Regulations
The official game rules for the WRO 2026 season are now available! Review the complete challenge details, scoring criteria, and technical specifications for all competition categories above.
Important: As the official US National Organizer for WRO, the US Engineering League reserves the right to modify, adapt, or supplement the international rules for all USEL-sanctioned tournaments. Please refer to event-specific documentation for any rule variations that may apply to your competition.
2026 Competition Timeline
Key dates for the upcoming WRO season. Plan your journey from registration to the world finals.
Registration Opens
January 2026
Game Rules Released
January 15, 2026
District Championships (School Partners Only)
Ontario, CA · April 17–18, 2026
School National Championships (School Partners Only)
Ontario, CA · July 24–26, 2026
USEL Affiliate Cup
DeKalb, IL · August 7-9, 2026
WRO Regional Open Qualifier: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, IL · August 12–14, 2026
Virginia Open Qualifier
Charlottesville, VA · September 5-6
Open Championships: Americas
Ontario, CA · September 25–27, 2026
Open Championships: Asia & Pacific
Delhi, India · September 25–27, 2026
Open Championships: Europe
Zagreb, Croatia · October 13–16, 2026
🏆 International Final - Puerto Rico
December 8–10, 2026
Destination: San Juan, Puerto Rico
The WRO 2026 International Final will be hosted in beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico this December.
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about participating in WRO 2026.
- Teams register for each event directly with its host, and registration fees are set by each event.
- Official WRO equipment, including competition mats, challenge kits, and table tops, is available in the USEL Store.
- For teams qualifying for international competitions, additional fees apply.
Ready to Compete?
Join thousands of teams building the future of robotics. Get your equipment, then find an event to compete in.