The End of an Era, Not the End of the Journey
A world-wide STEM sensation
For more than 25 years, FIRST® LEGO® League has inspired young people to become problem-solvers, innovators and team players through hands-on STEM learning. Created through a partnership between FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the US-based, global non-profit, and LEGO® Education, the programme combines robotics, coding, research and real-world challenges in a competition format that encourages creativity, collaboration and engineering thinking.
Students work in teams to design, build and programme LEGO robots while developing innovative solutions to themed challenges, helping them build both technical knowledge and essential life skills.
A parting of partners
Following a partnership that began in 1998, LEGO Education has announced that the 2026-27 season will be the final FIRST® LEGO® League season delivered jointly with FIRST®, marking the end of one of the most successful STEM education collaborations in the world.
However, this is not the end of the journey. FIRST® will continue to deliver its other youth robotics programmes and is also in the process of developing it's own replacement programme for FIRST® LEGO® League.
LEGO Education has also recently announced that it will also continue with its own programme, simply called ‘LEGO® League’.
Both providers have promised to ensure that the core values that have defined FIRST® LEGO® League for generations, curiosity, creativity, teamwork and innovation, remain at the heart of their future STEM learning opportunities.
Not the end, but a junction point
So rather than the end of the road, this season marks a point of transition that will ultimately lead teams to a choice, of which programme to pursue for the 2027/28 season and beyond.
As it is, this season teams can access both the traditional Founders Edition, built around LEGO Education SPIKE™ technology, and the newer Future Edition, which introduces LEGO Education's new Computer Science & AI platform, enhanced wireless technologies and new collaborative gameplay experiences. This Future Edition is what will become LEGO League moving forwards.
For many, change is rarely easy in any context, and for thousands of students, teachers, volunteers and partners that have been involved in FIRST® LEGO® League over the years, these changes have been unsettling.
There is definitely some sadness for the end of the programme and the partnership that so many know and love.
So many happy memories are attached to past seasons: The varied themes, favourite robot game missions, innovation projects, regional, national and internation competition experiences, successes, challenges, finding the FIRST® LEGO® League chicken each year and, most of all, meeting and working with the inspiring young people and volunteers that make FIRST® LEGO® League what it is.
But change can be good for us. It can reinvigorate, shake things up, get us out of our comfort zone and make us take a fresh look at things. There will be some challenges to navigate, but I'm sure that the future remains bright for both new programmes going forwards.
Bioglow
But back to the present. Each season FIRST® LEGO® League has a brand-new theme which connects students' learning and innovation to the real world. Previous seasons have covered space, recycling, renewable energy, transportation of goods, oceans, water, cities of the future and archaeology, to name a few.
This year's theme is called BIOGLOW™, which invites young people to explore the fascinating ecosystems that support life on Earth. Teams will investigate biodiversity and discover how science, technology and innovation can help protect and sustain the natural world.
In the Robot Game, Robot Design and the Innovation Project, teams will look to develop solutions to real-world environmental issues while building the teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills that are at the heart of FIRST® LEGO® League
Our Amazing Partners
As regional delivery partners for FIRST® LEGO® League, we have always tried to take away financial barriers for schools wishing to participate. We have only been able to do that because of fantastic support from a number of key partners Sage have made an enormous contribution to this by sponsoring our North Tyneside and Northumberland events since 2017.
They generously pay entry fees and fund robotics equipment for our competing teams, provide a fantastic venue and an army of volunteers through their fantastic Sage Foundation.
This video gives a wonderful snapshot of our partnership with Sage. It was filmed at our 2024/25 regional tournament events.
Our Teesside event is now in its third year with incredible support from Johnson Matthey. Through their Science and Me STEM funding programme, they have funded entry fees and provided LEGO robotics kits for schools. Their team also support our tournament events as volunteers. Redcar and Cleveland College are once again kindly hosting the event and their staff will also be supporting the day.
Our Gateshead event, also now in its third year, is taking place at Gateshead College's Academy for Sport. Last year, the college helped us create a wonderful STEM experience for the teams as they put on extra STEM stalls and activities with their own students and staff. We can't wait to return this year.
Get involved
So, if you are feeling inspired, there are still plenty of ways for you to get involved with our final FIRST® LEGO® League season.
For school or independent teams, open places are still available at our tournament events for Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
You can register a team on the IET website and select one of these tournaments to attend. Teams can be up to ten children aged 9 to 16 years old.
We are also still recruiting volunteers to help staff our events. We need judges, referees and other helpers to make each day go smoothly. No prior experience is necessary, and we provide simple training that can be done at your own convenience, plus plenty of support to make sure you have an amazing experience.
If your organisation is interested in getting involved through sponsorship or volunteering, please get in touch. We are always looking for interested partners who are looking to support STEM education and the next generation of North East engineers.
You can find out more about all our events and the volunteering roles that are available HERE, and sign up to volunteer HERE.
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