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FIRST Event Experience
Where STEM & Community are Celebrated
FIRST® events combine the excitement of sport with the rigor of science and technology and inspiration that comes from community. These high-energy celebrations bring students, mentors, volunteers, families, and fans together to showcase what teams have built, learned, and discovered, while demonstrating the core philosophies of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®, where fierce competition and mutual respect go hand in hand.
Explore FIRST® Events and Awards by Program
Our program experiences support growth, celebrate creativity, and build real-world skills. Students are recognized not only for their technical abilities, but also for innovation, teamwork, and community impact through a variety of program-specific awards.
Click on the program names below to explore event types and awards, or visit our Event Search to find an event near you.
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FIRST® LEGO® League
Ages 5-16 | Grades K-8
Build, Play, and Discover Together
At FIRST® LEGO® League events, students present their ideas, explore new technologies, make new friends, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Beyond their robots’ performance, teams are also honored with age-appropriate awards that recognize their innovation, inclusion efforts, teamwork, and thoughtful approach to design.
Local FIRST Program Delivery Partners manage events and set and collect separate event registration fees. Event availability, format, and timing vary by region and organizers reserve the right to limit the number of teams attending any tournaments.
Ages 5–6FIRST® LEGO® League Discover Events
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover closes with a school-based celebration event, where students work together to solve a final collaborative challenge, demonstrating the skills and concepts they’ve learned for friends and family.Ages 6–10FIRST® LEGO® League Explore Events
The FIRST® LEGO® League Explore season ends with festivals, where students showcase their team models and posters and share what they’ve learned with volunteers, friends, and family, ranging from small gatherings to international events. Official FIRST LEGO League Explore Festivals are held by our partners around the world. Every team is recognized at a Festival for the work they have completed. Some partners opt to give each team a named award as well, though this is not required.Ages 9–16FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Events
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge teams prepare all season to compete at tournaments, where judges provide valuable feedback on their robot, code, and Innovation Project. Each team also plays Robot Game matches to demonstrate their design and code. In between matches, you may see them working together to iterate and improve their robot. Top-performing teams take home awards, but all teams will share in the celebration of a season well done. Select teams are also invited by partners to Opens and the FIRST Championship.Event ResourceEvent Hub
If your FIRST LEGO League event is using the FIRST Event Hub, you can access it via the button below. The Event Hub is intended for FIRST coaches, mentors, and volunteers. Contact your Program Delivery Partner if you need login credentials or experience technical issues.EventsCommunity Events
Community events are organized by you and hosted by your community. Since they are unofficial events, they can follow any format. Schools, libraries, museums, parks, gym, and arenas all make great venues for community events. Have fun engaging another team in some practice, showing parents your project and robot, or demonstrating the impact of FIRST LEGO League in your community. -
FIRST® Tech Challenge
ages 12-18 | Grades 7-12
Way More Than Building Robots
FIRST® Tech Challenge events help students gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence while they collaborate and share ideas, compete with their robots, engage with cutting edge technology, creatively solve problems, and have fun. Top-performing teams may qualify for regional events or earn an invitation to the annual FIRST® Championship or Premier Events.
Local FIRST Program Delivery Partners manage events and set and collect separate event registration fees. Event availability, format, and timing vary by region and organizers reserve the right to limit the number of teams attending any tournaments.Event TypeWorkshop
There are a variety of workshop types depending on the region and organizing Program Delivery Partner. Events can be hosted by Program Delivery Partners, Program Delivery Organizations, or teams.Event TypeKickoff
Kickoff is typically the first event of the FIRST Tech Challenge season; we announce the game and begin the build season. Kickoff events can be hosted by Program Delivery Partners, Program Delivery Organizations, teams, or community groups. These events are a great place to meet partners and other teams in your area and often have workshops or additional fun activities.Event TypeLeagues/Meets
Meets are similar to a traditional sporting event. Teams compete in smaller, more frequent competitions to gain points that will advance them to the next level tournament play. Leagues/Meets are currently in several regions and experiences may vary based on the region. Contact your local FIRST Tech Challenge representative with questions regarding these events.Event TypeQualifying Tournament
Qualifying Tournaments are often larger events, held in school gyms or cafeterias. At these events, teams compete to advance to their Regional Championship events. Qualifying Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.Event TypeSuper-Qualifying Tournament
These events are held in regions with a large number of teams and/or Leagues. In these regions, teams advance from either a League Championship or Qualifying Tournament to a Super-Qualifying Tournament, and then to the regional or state Championship. Super-Qualifying Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.Event TypeChampionship Tournament
These are regional- or state-level events. U.S. teams compete for a chance to advance to the FIRST Championship event. Championship Tournaments may require teams to advance through a Qualifying Tournament structure. Championship Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging and awards. International Championship Tournaments will advance directly to the FIRST Championship.Event TypeFIRST Championship
This international event is the culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together tens of thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers. To compete, U.S. teams advance from their respective regional Championship Tournaments, and international teams advance from their respective Championship Tournaments.Event TypePremier Events
Capstone events specifically focused on celebrating FIRST Tech Challenge teams. These events are hosted around the world from April through July. Teams earn advancement to Premier Events the same way as they earn advancement to the FIRST Championship, based on performance at their Regional Championship event.Event ResultsAwards & Results
Teams can be recognized for everything from robot design and programming to outreach and innovation. Awards include the Inspire Award, Think Award, Connect Award, Innovate Award, Design Award, Reach Award, Control Award, and Sustain Award. -
FIRST® Robotics Competition
Ages 14-18
A STEM Celebration Like No Other
Each season of the FIRST® Robotics Competition begins with a game reveal in January and leads to local events where teams compete for awards and a spot at FIRST® Championship.
Events offer students an amazing experience as they develop a sense of accomplishment and confidence while they collaborate and share ideas; compete with, repair, and upgrade their robots; creatively solve problems; interview with volunteer judges; and have fun.
Formats and timing vary by region; your local Program Delivery Partner manages events and can help you get started. Teams register for official events through the FIRST Dashboard starting in September through a process that gives teams an opportunity to compete at their preferred event(s).Event TypeKickoff
The event that ignites the start of the FIRST Robotics Competition season and when the new game is revealed!Event TypeDistrict & Regional Events
Local events that teams attend as part of their registration fee. Teams may also qualify for the FIRST Championship from these local events.Event TypeFIRST Championship
The culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together tens of thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers for the ultimate celebration of science and technology. Teams from around the world earn spots at FIRST Championship by participating in District or Regional Events.Event TypeOff-Season Events
These unofficial events utilize FIRST program content for which there is a participation fee or sponsorship funding.Event ResultsAwards & Results
Awards highlight excellence in engineering, team spirit, leadership, and real-world impact. Teams are eligible for awards at every event they attend and can apply for prestigious honors like the FIRST Impact Award, Dean’s List Award, and more.
Build, Play, and Discover Together
At FIRST® LEGO® League events, students present their ideas, explore new technologies, make new friends, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Beyond their robots’ performance, teams are also honored with age-appropriate awards that recognize their innovation, inclusion efforts, teamwork, and thoughtful approach to design.
Local FIRST Program Delivery Partners manage events and set and collect separate event registration fees. Event availability, format, and timing vary by region and organizers reserve the right to limit the number of teams attending any tournaments.
Ages 5–6
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover Events
FIRST® LEGO® League Discover closes with a school-based celebration event, where students work together to solve a final collaborative challenge, demonstrating the skills and concepts they’ve learned for friends and family.
Ages 6–10
FIRST® LEGO® League Explore Events
The FIRST® LEGO® League Explore season ends with festivals, where students showcase their team models and posters and share what they’ve learned with volunteers, friends, and family, ranging from small gatherings to international events. Official FIRST LEGO League Explore Festivals are held by our partners around the world. Every team is recognized at a Festival for the work they have completed. Some partners opt to give each team a named award as well, though this is not required.
Ages 9–16
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Events
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge teams prepare all season to compete at tournaments, where judges provide valuable feedback on their robot, code, and Innovation Project. Each team also plays Robot Game matches to demonstrate their design and code. In between matches, you may see them working together to iterate and improve their robot. Top-performing teams take home awards, but all teams will share in the celebration of a season well done. Select teams are also invited by partners to Opens and the FIRST Championship.
Event Resource
Event Hub
If your FIRST LEGO League event is using the FIRST Event Hub, you can access it via the button below. The Event Hub is intended for FIRST coaches, mentors, and volunteers. Contact your Program Delivery Partner if you need login credentials or experience technical issues.
Events
Community Events
Community events are organized by you and hosted by your community. Since they are unofficial events, they can follow any format. Schools, libraries, museums, parks, gym, and arenas all make great venues for community events. Have fun engaging another team in some practice, showing parents your project and robot, or demonstrating the impact of FIRST LEGO League in your community.
Way More Than Building Robots
FIRST® Tech Challenge events help students gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence while they collaborate and share ideas, compete with their robots, engage with cutting edge technology, creatively solve problems, and have fun. Top-performing teams may qualify for regional events or earn an invitation to the annual FIRST® Championship or Premier Events.
Local FIRST Program Delivery Partners manage events and set and collect separate event registration fees. Event availability, format, and timing vary by region and organizers reserve the right to limit the number of teams attending any tournaments.
Event Type
Workshop
There are a variety of workshop types depending on the region and organizing Program Delivery Partner. Events can be hosted by Program Delivery Partners, Program Delivery Organizations, or teams.
Event Type
Kickoff
Kickoff is typically the first event of the FIRST Tech Challenge season; we announce the game and begin the build season. Kickoff events can be hosted by Program Delivery Partners, Program Delivery Organizations, teams, or community groups. These events are a great place to meet partners and other teams in your area and often have workshops or additional fun activities.
Event Type
Leagues/Meets
Meets are similar to a traditional sporting event. Teams compete in smaller, more frequent competitions to gain points that will advance them to the next level tournament play. Leagues/Meets are currently in several regions and experiences may vary based on the region. Contact your local FIRST Tech Challenge representative with questions regarding these events.
Event Type
Qualifying Tournament
Qualifying Tournaments are often larger events, held in school gyms or cafeterias. At these events, teams compete to advance to their Regional Championship events. Qualifying Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.
Event Type
Super-Qualifying Tournament
These events are held in regions with a large number of teams and/or Leagues. In these regions, teams advance from either a League Championship or Qualifying Tournament to a Super-Qualifying Tournament, and then to the regional or state Championship. Super-Qualifying Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.
Event Type
Championship Tournament
These are regional- or state-level events. U.S. teams compete for a chance to advance to the FIRST Championship event. Championship Tournaments may require teams to advance through a Qualifying Tournament structure. Championship Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging and awards. International Championship Tournaments will advance directly to the FIRST Championship.
Event Type
FIRST Championship
This international event is the culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together tens of thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers. To compete, U.S. teams advance from their respective regional Championship Tournaments, and international teams advance from their respective Championship Tournaments.
Event Type
Premier Events
Capstone events specifically focused on celebrating FIRST Tech Challenge teams. These events are hosted around the world from April through July. Teams earn advancement to Premier Events the same way as they earn advancement to the FIRST Championship, based on performance at their Regional Championship event.
Event Results
Awards & Results
Teams can be recognized for everything from robot design and programming to outreach and innovation. Awards include the Inspire Award, Think Award, Connect Award, Innovate Award, Design Award, Reach Award, Control Award, and Sustain Award.
A STEM Celebration Like No Other
Each season of the FIRST® Robotics Competition begins with a game reveal in January and leads to local events where teams compete for awards and a spot at FIRST® Championship.
Events offer students an amazing experience as they develop a sense of accomplishment and confidence while they collaborate and share ideas; compete with, repair, and upgrade their robots; creatively solve problems; interview with volunteer judges; and have fun.
Formats and timing vary by region; your local Program Delivery Partner manages events and can help you get started. Teams register for official events through the FIRST Dashboard starting in September through a process that gives teams an opportunity to compete at their preferred event(s).
Event Type
Kickoff
The event that ignites the start of the FIRST Robotics Competition season and when the new game is revealed!
Event Type
District & Regional Events
Local events that teams attend as part of their registration fee. Teams may also qualify for the FIRST Championship from these local events.
Event Type
FIRST Championship
The culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together tens of thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers for the ultimate celebration of science and technology. Teams from around the world earn spots at FIRST Championship by participating in District or Regional Events.
Event Type
Off-Season Events
These unofficial events utilize FIRST program content for which there is a participation fee or sponsorship funding.
Event Results
Awards & Results
Awards highlight excellence in engineering, team spirit, leadership, and real-world impact. Teams are eligible for awards at every event they attend and can apply for prestigious honors like the FIRST Impact Award, Dean’s List Award, and more.