The excitement is building! The 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition season, Rebuilt - sponsored by Haas, launches this weekend. On Saturday, January 10, thousands of students, mentors, and volunteers around the world will tune in for the official Kickoff broadcast and the unveiling of this year's intriguing new game challenge.

For the FIRST NC community, this moment marks more than the start of another robotics season. It's a testiment to the ingenuity, teamwork, and the power of hands-on STEM learning. Each year, Kickoff starts an intense two months of designing, problem-solving, and collaboration as high school students work together to bring their unique ideas to life.

Why does Kickoff matter?
• It reveals the engineering challenge that drives the entire season.
• It connects thousands of student innovators and mentors 
  worldwide.
• It sparks the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and perseverance.

From classrooms to community centers, from North Carolina to teams across the globe, Kickoff reminds us that innovation happens when people come together to learn, imagine, and build a better tomorrow.

The Rebuilt season is about more than robots. It's about rebuilding connections, confidence, and the future itself. Follow the excitement online using #FRCRebuilt and #FIRSTNC as we launch into another season of fun and robots!