Coding · FIRST Robotics BC

FIRST LEGO League (Explore and Challenge) in BC

Team LEGO robotics for ages 6–14. Teams must register with FIRST by October 31, 2026 to compete at BC qualifiers in January.

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Grades
Grades 1–8
Format
Teams of kids with two adult coaches, meeting through the fall. Tournaments and festivals are in person.
Cost
Paid per team, not per child. FIRST charges US$285 for a Challenge team and US$150 for an Explore team. A BC Challenge tournament fee of $225 covers all BC events, and the Challenge set costs about $220. Explore festivals are usually about $25 per team.
Official site
firstroboticsbc.org

Key dates

  • ConfirmedOnline season startSat, October 3, 2026
  • ConfirmedRegister Challenge team with FIRSTSat, October 31, 2026
  • ConfirmedQualifier registration closesSat, November 28, 2026
  • ConfirmedLower Mainland qualifiers (January 30–31, LA Matheson Secondary, Surrey)Sat, January 30, 2027
  • ConfirmedBC/Yukon Championship (planned, LA Matheson Secondary)Sat, February 27, 2027

What it is

FIRST LEGO League is a team program where kids build and code a LEGO robot and work on a research project around a yearly theme. The 2026–27 theme is BIOGLOW, about biodiversity.

Explore is for ages 6–10. Teams build a model and show it at a friendly festival. Challenge is for ages 9–14. Teams compete in a robot game and are judged on their project and teamwork.

In BC, Challenge team members can't be older than 14 on January 1, 2026.

FIRST says 2026–27 is the final season of FIRST LEGO League. FIRST Robotics BC says LEGO robot sets can still be used in FIRST programs for at least two more seasons.

A good fit if: Kids who love LEGO, building and working with friends. A good first taste of coding and engineering.

How to register

  1. Your child needs to join a team. Teams are run by schools, community groups and parents. Ask your school or contact FIRST Robotics BC to find one, or start your own.
  2. The coach registers the team with FIRST. Each team needs two coaches who complete youth protection screening.
  3. Parents create a FIRST account and sign their child up for the team.
  4. Challenge teams must register with FIRST by October 31, 2026 to attend a qualifier. Qualifier registration is open from October 31 to November 28, 2026.
  5. Explore teams register with FIRST any time from July to April. Each festival has its own sign-up, sent to teams by email.

How to prepare

  • FIRST Robotics BC runs an online season start on October 3, 2026 and monthly coach chats.
  • Challenge teams need one LEGO SPIKE Prime or Mindstorms set for the main edition.

For grade-by-grade options see Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8.

Common questions

What age is FIRST LEGO League for?

Explore is for ages 6–10 and Challenge is for ages 9–14. In BC, Challenge members can't be older than 14 on January 1 of the season year.

How much does FIRST LEGO League cost in BC?

Costs are per team. For 2026–27 a Challenge team pays US$285 to FIRST, $225 for BC tournaments and about $220 for the challenge set. Teams usually split this among families or get school support.

Is FIRST LEGO League ending?

FIRST says the 2026–27 BIOGLOW season is the final season of FIRST LEGO League. FIRST Robotics BC says LEGO sets can be used in FIRST programs for at least two more seasons.

What comes next

Coding

FIRST Tech Challenge in BC

Team robotics for Grades 7–12. Teams design, build and code a robot. The Lower Mainland qualifier is December 5, 2026 in Surrey.

Grades 7–12Paid per teamCoding

Beaver Computing Challenge

Computational-thinking puzzles, no coding needed. Written online at school, November 9–20, 2026. Schools must order by October 26.

Grades 5–10$3 per student

Sources

Last checked October 2, 2026. Dates can change, so always confirm with the organizer.