FIRST® LEGO® League Founders and Future Edition

What is FIRST® LEGO® League?

FIRST® LEGO® League engages children ages 6–16 in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—through hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Using LEGO® technology, participants explore real-world challenges through a guided global robotics program that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Across its three divisions, FIRST LEGO League empowers young people to develop critical thinking, coding, and design skills while showcasing their ideas and innovations to help build a brighter future.

Who Can Participate in FIRST® LEGO® League?

FIRST® LEGO® League is open to young learners from ages 6-16, depending on the division they enter. Students about 6–10 years old join Foundation Edition Explore, and older students typically ages 9–16 take part in either the Foundation Edition Challenge or the Future Edition divisions. In the Challenge division, students work in teams of 2 to 10 students, collaborating on robotics, problem-solving, and research projects, with guidance from an adult coach.

Why Participate in FIRST® LEGO® League?

Participating in FIRST LEGO League helps students develop real-world STEM skills through hands-on robotics, coding, and problem-solving. Teams design and program LEGO robots, research real global challenges, and present innovative solutions while building teamwork, communication, and confidence. Guided by FIRST Core Values such as Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition, students learn to collaborate respectfully and see how science and technology can make a positive impact on the world.

How Do I Participate in FIRST® LEGO® League?

• Step 1: Select the edition you would like to participate in.
• Step 2: Choose the correct program for your age.
• Step 3: Register your interest below.
• Step 3: Register your team.
• Step 4: Pay for your registrations.

Registrations for the 2026-2027 seasons open in April, register your interst below and get notified as soon as registrations open. 

The Reimagined FIRST LEGO League

The next generation of FIRST LEGO League creates an evolved experience leveraging LEGO® Education Computer Science & AI kits, which consist of teacher support materials, bricks, hardware and code, designed for bringing computer science into the daily lives of students.

The experience is designed to make implementation easy and seamless in both classrooms and after-school environments. With hardware powered by LEGO Education Computer Science & AI, the program will meaningfully engage every type of learner, including those who may not have naturally seen themselves in robotics or STEM.

New Age Structure

Future Edition has two offerings available, targeting the following age groups:

• 8–16 years (2026-2027 Season)

The Evolution of FIRST LEGO League

What's new about Future Edition?

FIRST LEGO League will retain the fun and thrill our community cherishes, with new features that make it more accessible and in alignment with next-generation learning.

Wireless Hardware with Built-In, Paired Functions

For the first time ever, FIRST LEGO League will utilise wireless hardware elements including sensors, motors, and a wireless controller – allowing us greater flexibility, accessibility, and variability. 

Game Models with Embedded Hardware

We have utilised this system of hardware, splitting its use between team robotic solutions and motorising game models – making them interactive and adding a new layer of strategy to the matches. 

Semi-Cooperative Matches on a Shared Game Field

Another new experience in FIRST LEGO League is the introduction of semi-cooperative gameplay, where teams compete side-by-side on a shared field that rewards coordination and collaboration during the 2.5-minute game.

Unique Player Roles with Guided Missions

All of these evolutions are supported by four unique team roles: Driver, Operator, Technician and Specialist. No longer will students simply launch their robots during games; they will play the game with the robotic and mechanical tools they built and developed. 

FIRST® LEGO® League Future Edition: Program Snapshot

• Students 8 - 16 years old (Years 3 - 10)
• Minimum of 2 coaches required per team
• Teams can be school or community-based
• Robot matches are autonomous and run for 2:30 minutes
• Qualifying Competitions TBA
• 2 hour time commitment per week (approx)
• Robot technology is LEGO Education Computer Science & AI Kits

• Up to 8 students per team
• Registrations open May 25, 2026 | Season kicks off August 4, 2026
• 2026-2027 will be the only season for Future Edition
• Teams can use multiple coding languages including Word Blocks, Icon Blocks or Python
• 1 National Championship in Sydney
• $225 (ex GST) registration cost/per team Cost of season kit TBC
• Yearly budget is $2000 (approx).

Divisions

FIRST® LEGO® League Founders Edition has two age-appropriate divisions designed to inspire young learners to grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills and showcase what they learned.

FIRST® LEGO® League Explore

Students in Explore will focus on the fundamentals of engineering while experiencing hands-on problem solving. Students will learn to design, code, and discover real-world solutions using LEGO® bricks. Powered by LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential.

Registration options: Team (up to six (6) students) and Class Pack (24 students).

FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge

Students will begin to apply the STEM skills they have learned to friendly competition, engaging in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering. These students will program a LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime robot to complete seasonal games and challenges in addition to researching, identifying, and solving a real-world problem.

Registration options: Team (up to 10 students) and Class Pack (24 students).

FIRST LEGO League Founders Edition: Program Snapshots

Explore

• Students 6 - 10 years old (Years 1 - 4)
• Minimum of 1 coach required per team
• Teams can be school or community-based
• No matches — interactive, hands-on model building and sharing
• 12 Explore Festivals across Australia
• 1 hour time commitment per week (approx)
• Robot technology is LEGO Education SPIKE Essential
• Up to 6 students per team
• Registrations open May 25, 2026 | Season kicks off August 4, 2026
• 380+ teams nationally
• Teams can use multiple coding languages including Word Blocks, Icon Blocks or Python
• 1 National Festival in December (Sydney)
• $65 (ex GST) registration cost/per team | $70 (ex GST) cost of Season Kit
• Yearly budget is $700 (approx).

Challenge

• Students 9 - 16 years old (Years 4 - 10)
• Minimum of 2 coaches required per team
• Teams can be school or community-based
• Robot matches are autonomous and run for 2:30 minutes
• 70+ Qualifying Competitions across Australia
• 2 hour time commitment per week (approx)
• Robot technology is LEGO Education SPIKE Prime
• Up to 10 students per team
• Registrations open May 25, 2026 | Season kicks off August 4, 2026
• 950+ teams nationally
• Teams can use multiple coding languages including Word Blocks, Icon Blocks or Python
• 4 National Championship in December: Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane
• $225 (ex GST) registration cost/per team | $400 (ex GST) cost of Season Kit
• Yearly budget is $1200 (approx).