Yes. The RECF has a contract with the city of St. Louis to host the RECF World Championship event and the dates are set for April 27, 2027 – May 6, 2027.
We hear you, and we are listening.
There is a tremendous amount of anxiety, confusion, and concern in our community right now, and we are not ignoring it. As any student in our programs knows, real growth doesn’t happen when things are easy—it happens when you face the hardest challenges head-on. We are navigating this moment with complete honesty and integrity, because our community deserves transparency. Our commitment to you is absolute: your growth, your future, and your success will always be our priority.
The world is changing, and the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) is adapting along with it. This is a defining opportunity to create the next generation of robotics competition—one that is accessible, affordable, and thoughtfully designed for student education.
To be completely clear about the 2026–2027 season, the RECF is preparing a full slate of competitions, led by our team and grounded in the same commitment to engaging, challenging gameplay that has defined our programs for years.
We know teams are planning, parts are being purchased, and decisions are being made now. We want you to plan with confidence: your robots and your skills will translate forward, and the competitions that matter to your team will continue. RECF is investing in the future of our community, and you are at the center of that future.
More detailed information — including game rules, event schedules, and additional program updates — will be shared in the weeks ahead. If you have specific questions about your team or upcoming events, please reach out to your Regional Support Manager and we will be happy to help.
We are dedicated to producing games and events that are structured first and foremost to be the best for students, and we are currently working on additional details and the game rules for upcoming RECF Robotics Competitions.
Our new competition will respect the investments teams have already made by:
Beyond the upcoming season, we are fundamentally rethinking our approach to products and logistics. The RECF is no longer tied to one single product supplier. We are incredibly excited to collaborate with other partners to integrate comparable parts and diverse sensors, which will dramatically reduce product costs and—critically—the shipping expenses that burden our teams.
Looking ahead, our community can expect a wider range of pathways and solutions that best serve learners and educators. Our long-term vision includes a variety of game elements, incorporating components that can be 3D printed locally to cut down on lead times and shipping fees. Our target is to reduce game element set costs by at least 50%, allowing us to run with lower team registration fees and keep these life-changing programs fully accessible. We will also continue to prioritize school-based and non-profit organizations with an expansion of conferences for all grade levels and additional school-based tournaments.
For the 2026–2027 season, the registration fee to compete in the RECF Robotics Competition will be $175 USD. This fee reflects our dedication to our community and doubles down on our dedication to affordability and accessibility.
Such inspiring strength lies within our RECF partners and the sponsors who have firmly stepped up to reaffirm their support. Because of their dedication, we will continue to offer registration grants and extensive event partner equipment to keep our network thriving.
Your voice and input matter the most, and we are actively seeking the next generation of partners and collaborators to power our competitions in the years ahead. We invite you to jump in and join us right now in developing the 2027–2028 RECF Robotics Competition. Our plan is to continue to align with forward-thinking leaders across the STEM, robotics, drones, and workforce development sectors. Consider this a direct, open invitation: if you want to help us actively shape the future of this landscape, let’s connect.
The future is our focus, and we are bringing the community with us. Building on the growth and momentum of our Aerial Drone Competition over recent years, we are officially bringing drones and expanded programming to St. Louis, MO for the 2027 RECF World Championship and future championship events. The RECF owns the contract with St. Louis, giving us the perfect stage to host a broad, vibrant, and inclusive World Championship.
Regarding the 2027 RECF World Championship, the dates are set for April 27 through May 6, 2027. Imagine an inclusive and expanded championship for not only land-based robotics, but aerial drone technology, and more. There is a tremendous opportunity ahead of us.
We refuse to be distracted from you or our focus on serving you, which is why we are communicating directly with our family of coaches, event partners, volunteers, and supporters.
We will continue to share exciting updates and information as we have it, answer your questions as they arise, and give you the transparent communication you deserve. As a reminder, our 2026 RECF Summit for Robotics Programs is July 13–15 in St. Louis, MO. This has been scheduled since January, and we are excited for our Coaches and Event Partners to attend. If you have questions right now, please reach out directly to your Regional Support Manager.
“Thank you,” doesn’t even begin to cover the gratitude we feel for your unwavering support and patience as we work through this transition. We believe in you, we are fiercely dedicated to your success, and together, we are going to use this moment to build a broader, brighter, and unstoppable future for our students and communities.
For more information, please visit our FAQs. We are updating information regularly.
Yes. The RECF has a contract with the city of St. Louis to host the RECF World Championship event and the dates are set for April 27, 2027 – May 6, 2027.
We want to properly allocate spots to our culminating event based on current team counts instead of historical counts, as we normally do. Therefore, we will issue spots in January 2027.
For the 2026–2027 season, the registration fee to compete in the RECF Robotics Competition will be $175 and removal of the credit card processing fee. This fee reflects our dedication to our community and doubles down on our dedication to affordability and accessibility.
Teams will find a familiar structure when they participate. Registration and event management will run through new RECF systems, and we will introduce new awards and program elements over time. The core RECF documents that guide our programs — including the Code of Conduct, Student Centered Policy, Qualifying Criteria, Commitment to Event/Coach Excellence, and Guide to Judging — will continue to be used.
For the 2026-2027 season, teams from any location may participate in our competition as long as they register and pay through RECFEvents.org.
Yes, signature events will exist. Signature events have been a hallmark of our programs and will continue.
Yes, teams are encouraged to continue using their existing VEX Robotics hardware to play the game. Upcoming game updates may also allow hardware from other sources, and will address concerns such as colored parts, grease, etc.
Absolutely. Private teams, community organizations, homeschool groups, and independent nonprofits remain an important part of the RECF community and continue to be welcome in RECF programs and events. While many teams are school-based, the RECF remains committed to providing accessible opportunities for all students, regardless of the type of organization they participate through.
Yes. More details will be made available on the rules soon regarding 3D printing options and expanded hardware choices for robotics and drones.
School-based teams make up over 80% of the RECF teams in the United States. Most of our events are run by school-based organizations. Schools and school districts want their resources to be used for their students first. The RECF is committed to this competition having an educational focus first.
A signed letter from a school administrator on school letterhead acknowledging that the team/organization is recognized and supported by the school.
An official copy of the organization’s 501c3 document. Future screening of non-profit organizations may be implemented.
RECF reserves the right to determine team eligibility and the appropriate competition track for each participating team or organization, in accordance with our published criteria and applicable law.
The RECF’s competition season will open June 10, 2026. Please stay tuned for updates on RECF.org, the RECF Library, and emails from your RECF Regional Support Manager.
Unfortunately, there is no way for RECF to assist with recovering funds paid to RobotEvents.com prior to May 10, 2026. Those requests would have to go through sales@vex.com or through your financial institution. RECF is taking steps to address the unauthorized diversion of payments made through the platform but cannot recover individual customer funds directly.
Yes, teams will still be able to use VEX Robotics parts within the RECF Robotics Competition.
No, the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) and the Global Robotics & Science Foundation are two separate organizations and have independent staff structures.
You have the choice to register with either organization and will have the opportunity to compete this season, regardless of which provider you choose. You may also choose to compete in both. As long as you are registered and paid on RECFevents.com, you will face no barriers to competing in the RECF Robotics Competition.
Our plans to host the 2026 RECF Robotics & Drones Summit remain unchanged. Please stay tuned for additional details, and we look forward to having you join us in St. Louis.
Our plan is to keep the existing regions as they are; however, further discussions may take place with your Regional Support Manager. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most valuable information and support possible.
Please reach out to your Regional Support Manager (RSM) for assistance with grant support.
Please reach out to your Regional Support Manager (RSM) for assistance with retrieving historical data.
RECF information and updates will be posted on RECF.org, as well as shared by your RECF support team.
Field elements from past seasons that teams already own will be accepted in the RECF Robotics Competition. Additional details about field elements for the upcoming season will be shared as part of the game rules announcement.
The RECF will continue to operate under its existing qualifying structure. For questions about your specific region, please contact your Regional Support Manager (RSM).
The RECF will continue to administer the UIL RECF Robotics Division. We have a 5-year agreement that was signed on February 3, 2026, and goes through August 31, 2030.
Yes, the Fee Waiver program that we have had in place, will remain in effect for the 2026-2027 season. Details will be available soon in the RECF Library.
Yes. Our relationship with the JROTC is stronger than ever, and we are proud to continue to support and expand our support of the programs.
Information regarding the rules for the RECF Robotics Competition is coming soon.
