Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

Empowering the next generation of AI and robotics innovators.

  • All regions
  • Africa (51)
  • North America (2)
  • South America (8)
  • Asia (16)
  • Oceania (2)
  • Europe (8)

The leading UN-based educational robotics championship, inspired each year by a global challenge where robots provide innovative, practical solutions to real-world problems.

+
25
local chapters events
+
40
countries
+
7500
participants
+
1200
teams
Why the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
The competition promotes the use of open-source software and hardware, allowing participants full freedom in assembling and programming their robots. Its mission is to democratize access to robotics and AI education, helping to bridge the digital skills gap. The challenge also encourages the use of recycled materials and the development of environmentally friendly technologies, emphasizing the importance of building sustainable robots.
  • Grand Finale Ticket
    Represent your country at the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale 2026.
  • Complimentary General Passes to the AI for Good Global Summit
    Participate at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026, with a complimentary daily lunch pack during the Geneva Finale, provided for each participating team member and mentor.
  • Youth Zone Exhibition Space
    Showcase your project at a dedicated exhibition space at the AI for Good Global Summit 2026.
  • Network with Global Leaders
    Connect with UN representatives and key partners.
  • Dedicated Blog Article
    Gain recognition with an exclusive blog article highlighting the team journey and achievements.
  • Media Exposure
    Opportunity to gain awareness through global media coverage.
2025 - 2026 edition themeThe challenge

Participants design, build, and program a robot to complete a mission based on a selected global challenge. While learning robotics and coding, students gain more than just technical skills; they also develop essential workplace and future-ready competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving, project management, critical thinking, and information literacy. The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge features two age-based teams: Junior (born 2016-2012) and Senior (born 2011-2008). This division ensures age-appropriate challenges, fostering engagement and learning for all participants.

2024 - 2025 edition themeThe challenge

Participants design, build, and program a robot to complete a mission based on a selected global challenge. While learning robotics and coding, students gain more than just technical skills; they also develop essential workplace and future-ready competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving, project management, critical thinking, and information literacy. The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge features two age-based teams: Junior (born 2010-2013) and Senior (born 2006-2009). This division ensures age-appropriate challenges, fostering engagement and learning for all participants.

How to participate

Participants have the opportunity to take part in the Competition. The Competition can take place in person if there is a National Organizer in the participant’s country or region. In the absence of a physical event, participants can prepare for the Competition individually and submit their results in video format for the panel of judges to review by 1 April 2026 (2025-2026 edition).

Video submissions close on 1 April 2026.

Private and public entities are invited to submit their applications to organize an in-person Robotics for Good Youth Challenge – Local Chapter Event in their countries for the 2025-2026 edition.

Applications to organize an in-person Robotics for Good Youth Challenge closes on 01 September 2025.

d24663519fa47ef297002524e6127d1d1c279ce6
Upcoming events
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
18 February 2026
09:00 - 14:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Nigeria – Lagos State is the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
21 February 2026
08:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Kenya – Mombasa County is the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
26 February 2026
08:00 - 17:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Tanzania is the prestigious Tanzania...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
27 February 2026
09:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Venezuela is the qualifying tournament...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 February 2026
08:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Kenya – Kiambu County is...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
14 March 2026
08:00 - 19:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge China is the Qualifying Tournament...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
14 March 2026
09:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Venezuela – Carabobo State is the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
14 March 2026
09:30 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Kenya is the prestigious Kenya National...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
15 March 2026
08:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Romania is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
21 March 2026
08:00 - 14:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Vietnam is the Qualifying Tournament...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
21 March 2026
09:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Venezuela is the prestigious Venezuelan...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
21 March 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Sierra Leone is the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
21 March 2026
10:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Côte d’Ivoire is the prestigious Côte...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
22 March 2026
10:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Spain – Girona is the qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
26 March 2026
08:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Ghana is the prestigious Ghana National...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
27 March 2026
08:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Benin is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
27 March 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Angola is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
08:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Lebanon is the prestigious Lebanon National Event...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
08:00 - 16:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Guinea is the Qualifying Tournament of...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Mali is the Qualifying Tournament...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
09:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Nigeria is the prestigious Nigeria National...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
10:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Switzerland is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
10:00 - 15:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Australia is the Qualifying Tournament of the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
28 March 2026
10:00 - 15:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge The Gambia is the prestigious...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
4 April 2026
08:30 - 16:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Ethiopia is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
11 April 2026
09:00 - 14:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Spain – Vic is the qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In personAI and industryAI and Education
23 April 2026
09:00 - 18:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Dominican Republic is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
24 April 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Namibia is the prestigious...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
25 April 2026
09:00 - 14:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Spain is the prestigious Spanish...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In person
8 May 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Mozambique is the Qualifying...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
In personAI and industryAI and Education
7 July 2026
09:00 - 17:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale is the...
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Timeline
  • January 2025 – July 2025
    Preparation phase

    Registration for teams open

    9 July 2025

  • July 2025 - April 2026
    Competition qualifying phase

    Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2025-2026 edition official launch

    9 July 2025

    Applications for organizing competition close

    1 September 2025

    Period for hosting Robotics for Good Youth Challenge National and Regional Events

    1 October 2025 - 1 April 2026

    Submission of the application form for online

    1 April 2026

  • May 2026 - July 2026
    Competition final phase

    Announcement of the best online and national teams

    May 2026

    National winners participate at Grand Finale during AI for Good Global Summit 2026

    7-8 July 2026

    Launch of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2025-2026

    7 July 2026

Robotics for Good Youth Challenge - your local chapter!

Looking to inspire and empower young innovators in your country or region to develop robotics solutions that tackle real-world challenges?

Co-organize, with ITU, your own Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Local Chapter, and send your top finalist teams to compete at the prestigious Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Grand Finale during the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva where the final winner will get a full package of prizes.

Download the package by completing the form below, and we’ll contact you to discuss this exciting opportunity.

Watch this year’s highlights video to imagine your presence!
Explore the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge Photo Gallery
Dive into the full visual story of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

Empowering African youth with future-ready skills through hands-on AI and robotics training programme. Launched by ITU with Google.org, i.am Angel Foundation, and Giga, the programme will train 20,000 students in 5 pilot countries by 2026. Activities include curriculum integration, teacher training, robotics kits, Robotics for Good Youth Challenge competitions, and AI Clubs in connected schools.

“We see this AI and robotics training program as an important part of how we’re delivering on our mission in Africa, where Google is working to expand connectivity, increase access to AI tools, and build skills across the continent.”

James Manyika

Senior Vice President of Research, Labs, Technology & Society at Google

Testimonial Image

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan partnered with the ITU to bring finalist teams from 14 Least Developed Countries to Geneva for the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2025 Grand Finale.

“As the Government of Japan, we are proud to support this initiative, which empowers young people to dream boldly, connect globally, and build a better tomorrow through technology.”

H.E. Dr. Takuo Imagawa

Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

Testimonial Image
National and regional organizers
Latest news

Are you sure you want to remove this speaker?