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Signature Events

RECF Signature Events

REC Foundation Signature Events give students the opportunity to play at a unique tournament that provides a special team experience. Signature Events have a level of technical expertise, production value, and overall event quality that is above and beyond that of a standard tournament.
The mission of these events is to provide more opportunities for teams that may or may not typically attend Event Region Championships or the VEX Robotics World Championship to experience an event of that level. Signature Events that meet the necessary requirements can qualify teams directly to the VEX Robotics World Championship. These events rely on the dedication of Event Partners who provide these special experiences for teams.

The 2025-2026 Signature Event Application Season

The 2025-2026 Signature Event Application Season opens on November 1, 2025. If you currently host a Signature Event, or are considering hosting one for the first time, please check out the application instructions and new updates for the upcoming season.
Updates
Reminders
Signature Events Logo
Event Partners interested in hosting a Signature Event should review these articles:
Application Instructions
Event Registration
Guide for Event Partners

Signature Events 2025-2026

University of North Dakota Signature at the Mall of America
University of North Dakota Signature at the Mall of America
Date:
July 31 – August 2, 2025
Location:
Bloomington, Minnesota
Program:
V5RC HS
The Highlander Summit
Date:
September 12-14, 2025
Location:
Newark, New Jersey
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Great Planes
Date:
September 26-27, 2025
Location:
Ashland, Nebraska
Program:
V5RC HS
Lobstah Bowl Signature Event logo
The Lobstah Bowl
Date:
October 16-18, 2025
Location:
Orono, Maine
Program:
V5RC HS
Haunted Signature Event logo
HAUNTED
Date:
October 23-25, 2025
Location:
Owensboro, Kentucky
Program:
V5RC HS
Smoky Mountain Forge Signature Event logo
Smoky Mountain Forge
Date:
November 12-13, 2025
Location:
Sevierville, Tennessee
Program:
V5RC MS
LAUNCH
Date:
November 14-15, 2025
Location:
Beachwood, Ohio
Program:
V5RC HS
Smoky Mountain Forge Signature Event logo
Smoky Mountain Forge
Date:
November 14-15, 2025
Location:
Sevierville, Tennessee
Program:
V5RC HS
Show Me Gateway Signature Event logo
Show Me Gateway
Date:
November 19-20, 2025
Location:
Saint Charles, Missouri
Program:
VIQRC MS
Signature Event
Air Capital Showdown
Date:
November 20-22, 2025
Location:
Wichita, Kansas
Program:
V5RC MS
Speedway
Date:
November 21-22, 2025
Location:
Speedway, Indiana
Program:
V5RC HS
Space City Signature Event logo
Space City
Date:
November 21-22, 2025
Location:
Houston, Texas
Program:
V5RC MS
Signature Event
One World
Date:
November 22-23, 2025
Location:
Berkeley, California
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
One World
Date:
November 23-24, 2025
Location:
Berkeley, California
Program:
V5RC MS
Space City Signature Event logo
Space City
Date:
November 24-25, 2025
Location:
Houston, Texas
Program:
V5RC HS
Wave at WPI Signature Event logo
WAVE at WPI
Date:
December 4-6, 2025
Location:
Worcester, Massachusetts
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Bixby’s FrostByte Frenzy
Date:
December 5-6, 2025
Location:
Bixby, Oklahoma
Program:
VIQRC MS
Signature Event
Hyundai Presents SCORE Showdown at Great Wolf Lodge
Date:
December 16-17, 2025
Location:
LaGrange, Georgia
Program:
VIQRC ES
Signature Event
Hyundai Presents SCORE Showdown at Great Wolf Lodge
Date:
December 18-19, 2025
Location:
LaGrange, Georgia
Program:
VIQRC MS
Sunshine Showdown Signature Event
Sunshine Showdown
Date:
December 26-28, 2025
Location:
Orlando, Florida
Program:
V5RC HS
Diamond in the Desert
Date:
December 28-29, 2025
Location:
Mesa, Arizona
Program:
VURC
Diamond in the Desert
Date:
December 28-30, 2025
Location:
Mesa, Arizona
Program:
V5RC MS
Diamond in the Desert
Date:
December 30-31, 2025
Location:
Mesa, Arizona
Program:
V5RC HS
Carolina Countdown
Date:
December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Location:
Greenville, South Carolina
Program:
V5RC HS
Fun In The Sun Signature Event logo
Fun in the Sun
Date:
January 2-4, 2026
Location:
Orlando, Florida
Program:
VIQRC ES
Fun In The Sun Signature Event logo
Fun in the Sun
Date:
January 2-4, 2026
Location:
Orlando, Florida
Program:
VIQRC MS
Signature Event
Sugar Rush
Date:
January 3-4, 2026
Location:
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
The North Dakota Signature Event
Date:
January 9-10, 2026
Location:
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Hyundai presents SCORE Showdown at Auburn University
Date:
January 15-17, 2026
Location:
Auburn, Alabama
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Robot Rodeo DFW
Date:
January 17-18, 2026
Location:
Irving, Texas
Program:
V5RC HS
Ignite the Northwest
Date:
January 17-19, 2026
Location:
Seattle, Washington
Program:
V5RC HS
Kalahari Classic
Date:
January 19-20, 2026
Location:
Sandusky, Ohio
Program:
VIQRC MS
Kalahari Classic
Date:
January 19-20, 2026
Location:
Sandusky, Ohio
Program:
VIQRC ES
Kalahari Classic
Date:
January 21-22, 2026
Location:
Sandusky, Ohio
Program:
V5RC MS
Signature Event
NE WI Showdown
Date:
January 22-23, 2026
Location:
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Kalahari Classic
Date:
January 23-24, 2026
Location:
Sandusky, Ohio
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Gateway to the West
Date:
January 28-29, 2026
Location:
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Program:
V5RC MS
Rumble in the Rockies Signature Event logo
Rumble In the Rockies
Date:
January 28-29, 2026
Location:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Program:
V5RC MS
Rumble in the Rockies Signature Event logo
Rumble In the Rockies
Date:
January 29-31, 2026
Location:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Gateway to the West
Date:
January 30-31, 2026
Location:
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
AFCEA Pikes Peak Robotics
Date:
February 1-2, 2026
Location:
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Program:
V5RC MS
Signature Event
AFCEA Pikes Peak Robotics
Date:
February 2-3, 2026
Location:
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Bots @ Bristol
Date:
February 12-13, 2026
Location:
Bristol, Tennessee
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Bots @ Bristol
Date:
February 13-14, 2026
Location:
Bristol, Tennessee
Program:
V5RC MS
Signature Event
8th NorCal Silicon Valley
Date:
February 13-15, 2026
Location:
Milpitas, California
Program:
V5RC HS
Signature Event
Bots @ Bristol
Date:
February 14-15, 2026
Location:
Bristol, Tennessee
Program:
VURC
Signature Event
8th NorCal Silicon Valley
Date:
February 15-16, 2026
Location:
Milpitas, California
Program:
VIQRC MS

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2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
Crowd watches the Signature Event in Minnesota's Mall of America
REC Foundation Logo White
VEX Robotics World Championship landscape logo