The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2026–2027 is an educational robotics championship led by the International Telecommunication Union through AI for Good. Young participants design, build, and program robots to address practical real-world challenges while developing skills in AI, robotics, teamwork, problem-solving, and project management. Teams can participate through national or regional events where available, while participants without a physical event can submit their work by video until 1 April 2027.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2026–2027
Category: Youth Robotics Competition
Organizer: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) / AI for Good
Format: National and regional competitions or video submission
Age Categories: Junior and Senior
Junior Category: Participants born from 2012 to 2016
Senior Category: Participants born from 2008 to 2011
Video Submission Deadline: 1 April 2027
About the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
ITU launched the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge in April 2024 to expand AI and robotics education among young people.
The programme is designed as a platform-agnostic robotics championship. Participants are not required to use one mandatory robotics kit. Instead, teams have the freedom to design, build, and program their robots and can source hardware locally.
This approach supports wider access to robotics education while encouraging teams to consider sustainable practices, including the reuse of robots and recycled materials.
What Participants Do
For the 2026–2027 edition, participants must design, build, and program a robot capable of completing a mission based on the selected global challenge.
Through the process, students develop both technical and broader skills.
Confirmed learning areas include:
✓ AI and robotics
✓ Robot design and programming
✓ Teamwork
✓ Problem-solving
✓ Project management
✓ Critical thinking
✓ Information literacy
The 2026–2027 Local Chapter competition is focused on health emergencies, connecting robotics development with practical challenges that can affect communities.
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Age Categories
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge uses two age-based competition categories.
Junior Category
The Junior category is for participants born between:
• 2012 and 2016
Senior Category
The Senior category is for participants born between:
• 2008 and 2011
The separate categories are intended to provide age-appropriate challenges and learning experiences.
How to Participate
Participation depends on whether a Robotics for Good Youth Challenge event is available in the participant’s country or region.
National or Regional Competition
Where a National Organizer is available, participants can take part through an in-person national or regional competition.
Local competitions provide a pathway for teams to demonstrate their robotics solutions and progress through the wider challenge structure.
Online Participation
Participants without access to a physical event can prepare for the competition independently and submit their results in video format.
The submitted video is reviewed by a panel of judges.
For the 2026–2027 edition, video submissions close on 1 April 2027.
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Competition Progression
The competition moves from preparation and qualifying activities to a final international stage.
The 2026–2027 edition officially launched on 10 July 2026.
National and regional competitions form part of the qualifying phase. Participants without a local event can instead use the video-submission route.
The best online and national teams are scheduled to be announced in May 2027.
National winners then participate in the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale during the AI for Good Global Summit 2027.
Grand Finale 2027
The official timeline lists the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale as part of the AI for Good Global Summit 2027.
The Grand Finale is scheduled for:
22–25 June 2027
This stage brings successful teams into the wider AI for Good environment and connects the youth robotics competition with the global Summit programme.
Skills Beyond Robotics
The challenge is structured around more than building a functioning robot.
Participants also develop future-ready skills while working through the challenge. These include coordinating work within teams, managing a project, evaluating information, solving problems, and making technical decisions.
The programme therefore combines practical robotics education with skills relevant to future study and technology-related work.
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Local Chapter Opportunities
The 2026–2027 edition also allows public and private organisations, government institutions, and ministries to apply to organise in-person Local Chapter Events.
The official deadline for organisations seeking to host a Local Chapter is:
• Local Chapter organizer application deadline: 1 September 2026
• Local Chapters announced: 30 September 2026
This organizer application is separate from participation by youth teams.
Key Dates
• 2026–2027 edition launched: 10 July 2026
• Local Chapter organizer deadline: 1 September 2026
• Local Chapters announced: 30 September 2026
• Participant video submission deadline: 1 April 2027
• Best online and national teams announced: May 2027
• AI for Good Global Summit 2027 / Grand Finale: 22–25 June 2027
• 2027–2028 challenge launch: 25 June 2027
Apply Here
Review the official competition details and follow the participation instructions provided on the official page.
