BIOGLOW is the FIRST LEGO League theme for the 2026-27 Season
In FIRST LEGO League Explore, teams of students in grades K through 3 focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design, and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO® Education SPIKE Essential or WeDo 2.0.
Explore teams that register with ORTOP can participate in a fun Showcase event.
Friendly competition is at the heart of FIRST LEGO League Challenge, as teams of students in grades 4 through 8 engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.
The FIRST LEGO League Challenge season begins in August when the new game theme is revealed. Teams showcase their work at events beginning in December. Teams that do particularly well at these tournaments are invited to the Oregon State Championship in January.
National registration opens in May each year for the following season. Teams must register with FIRST. To participate in events in Oregon they should also register with ORTOP / FIRST Oregon in October
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2027-28 FLL Season
Please see the announcement from FIRST regarding the FIRST and LEGO Education Partnership Update.
While this announcement marks the conclusion of a 28-year partnership between FIRST and LEGO Education at the end of the 2026–27 FIRST LEGO League season, it also opens the door to new possibilities. At ORTOP, we are energized by the opportunities ahead for K–8 students in FIRST programs and the continued growth of STEM learning across our region.
We are especially excited about the 2026–27 season and remain fully committed to supporting our teams, coaches, and communities throughout Oregon. As we look ahead, we are eager to see how these changes will shape and strengthen the future of FIRST programs for younger students.
ORTOP is currently awaiting additional details and guidance from FIRST and will share updates as soon as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we welcome your questions and feedback and are here to support you every step of the way.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to inspire the next generation of innovators.
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For the 2026–2027 season, ORTOP will operate FIRST LEGO League Founders Edition and Futures Edition, based on team registration.
Tournament Structure – Founders Edition
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Robot Equipment used is SPIKE Prime, EV3 or NXT (through the 2028-29 season)
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Qualifying Tournaments: Similar to prior seasons, held across two weekends in December 2026 (12/5, 12/6, 12/12 & 12/13)
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Championship Tournament: Jan 16, 2027 and possibly Jan 17, 2027, depending on number of teams
Additional details about tournament dates, locations, and registration timelines will be shared as they are finalized over the summer.
FIRST LEGO League Future Edition
In addition to FLL Founders Edition, ORTOP plans to support a separate tournament(s) for FIRST LEGO League Future Edition on Jan. 9.
This program will use the new LEGO Education CS&AI kits. Tournaments must have at least 12 teams to meet official guidelines, and teams may have to travel longer distances to attend a Future Edition Event. Event location(s) will depend on:
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The number of teams registered by a specific date
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The geographic distribution of those registered teams
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Availability of tournament hosts, venues, and trained volunteers
A Note About SPIKE Prime
FIRST LEGO League Founders Edition robot equipment, including SPIKE Prime and EV3 robot kits, will be used at least through the 2028-29 season. LEGO Education has discontinued the SPIKE line as of June 30, 2026 but will have parts available and software support for at least two years.
ORTOP has a limited number of SPIKE Prime kits available for purchase or rent. If you are unsure which FLL Edition is right for your team, or if you wish to participate in Founders Edition but need help sourcing a robot kit, please contact us at registrar@ortop.org before you register your team.
