Wisconsin FIRST ® LEGO® League

Welcome, Wisconsin FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge and Explore teams! This page contains the information you need about tournament schedules, registration, costs, deadlines and more.

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Uncover the Future

In the 2025-2026 UNEARTHED challenge, FIRST LEGO League teams will uncover the past to discover the future.

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Wisconsin FLL Calendar

This content was last updated 2/8/2026.

A New Era for FIRST LEGO League Is Coming

FIRST LEGO League is evolving. Beginning in August 2026, FLL Explore and FLL Challenge will enter two-year transition periods as FIRST introduces an updated FIRST LEGO League experience while continuing the current programs in parallel.

From August 2026 through May 2028, both Explore and Challenge will have two editions operating side by side:

Founders Edition (SPIKE™-based): This edition reflects the FIRST LEGO League programs as they exist today, using LEGO Education SPIKE technology. The Founders Edition will continue through the 2027–2028 season, which will be its final season.

Future Edition (Computer Science & AI-based): This new edition is powered by LEGO Education Computer Science & AI hardware and support materials. It is designed to broaden access and engagement by integrating computer science more deeply into hands-on learning. The first season of the Future Edition will be 2026–2027.

Following the final Founders Edition season in 2027–2028, FIRST will retire the current FIRST LEGO League division names—Explore and Challenge. In the U.S., we will have two age groups: ages 5–7 (grades K–2) and ages 8–14 (grades 3–8). By the 2028–2029 season, the Founders Edition will fully retire, the “Edition” naming will be phased out, and FIRST LEGO League will operate as a single, cohesive program.

Wisconsin FLL

We’ll continue to share updates on how Wisconsin FLL will move forward as new details become available and plans are finalized. Because information is evolving, our goal is to keep coaches informed step by step as we learn more. To stay up to date, we encourage you to sign up for our weekly FLL newsletter, where we’ll share the latest announcements, guidance and next steps. Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.

Official FIRST communications about updates to FLL 2026-2027:

01/12/2026—A New Era for FIRST LEGO League: Inspiring the Next Generation of Learners

01/30/2026—FIRST LEGO League Future Edition: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

FIRST LEGO League FAQs

Updated 01/12/2026
Updated 01/30/2026

Important Dates/Deadlines:

April 2026—LEGO Computer Science & AI for both ages 3–5 and ages 5–8 begin shipping out through LEGO Education.
April 29–May 2, 2026—During the 2026 FIRST Championship, FIRST will stream a demo of FLL Future Edition live from the event. More information regarding the time and day will be available soon.
June 30, 2026—The last day to purchase the LEGO Education SPIKE™ Prime kit (45678) directly from LEGO Education.
August 4, 2026—Official Kickoff for 2026–2027 FLL Season. Many details for the 2026–2027 season will also be released at Kickoff on August 4, 2026. This includes information around rules, the rubric and judging materials and other specifics about the game that teams need to know. 
September 2026—LEGO Computer Science & AI for ages K–2 begin shipping out through LEGO Education.
2026-2027 Season—First season for FLL Future Edition (based on LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits and hardware).
2027-2028 Season—Last season for FLL Founders Edition (based on LEGO Education SPIKE™ technology).
June 30, 2028—Last day to request LEGO Education SPIKE™ Prime replacement parts through LEGO Consumer Service.
June 30, 2031—The SPIKE App and related curriculum will continue to be supported until this date.

Official LEGO Communications:

01/2026—Important update: LEGO Education SPIKE ™ portfolio retiring

01/2026—LEGO Education's Computer Science & AI Kit main site

01/2026—LEGO Education's FIRST Lego League page

01/28/2026—LEGO Education Computer Science & AI Curriculum Introduction Video and Live Demo.

02/2026—FAQ about LEGO Education Computer Science & AI Live Demo from LEGO

Please submit your questions about the Wisconsin FLL 2026–2027 season using this form so our team can review and respond efficiently and accurately. This helps us track topics and follow up on anything that needs additional research. You may also contact Emily Luffey, FLL Coordinator, directly at eluffey@badgerbots.org.

This content was last updated 2/8/2026.

I Need Help!

Check the FIRST Resource Library

Look for a helpful topic on the official FIRST LEGO League Blog

Find recordings of our weekly Zoom coach calls on the WI FIRST LEGO League YouTube Channel

Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter

FAQ

When will the 2025–2026 season begin?

FIRST launched the new UNEARTHED season on August 5. Wisconsin regional tournaments start in November, sectionals happen in mid-December, and the season wraps up with the State Championship in January.

How do I set up a team?

You need at least two kids and two adults to start a team. Then, you’ll need to register your team at firstinspires.org. Once you’re registered, your coaches will automatically get signed up for our weekly email newsletter where you’ll get additional information and access to our weekly Zoom meeting. Teams must be registered with FIRST in order to attend any Wisconsin tournaments.

How much does it cost to have a team?

First, you'll need to buy or have access to a LEGO robot. Then, each team will need to pay a registration fee of $275, buy a Challenge Set for $95 (plus $15 S&H), and pay a $175 fee to participate in a regional tournament. Teams that advance beyond regionals will pay a one-time additional fee of $70. There is no additional fee for those advancing to the Championship.

What support will teams get from BadgerBots?

We communicate frequently with team coaches in multiple different ways.

If you have a specific question, email us at fllteams@badgerbots.org or join us on Slack. Slack is a messaging app where our head referees and judging advisor are often available and you can have conversations with other coaches and volunteers. You will need to be invited to join our Slack channel; email us at fllteams@badgerbots.org to get an invite.
For weekly updates, make sure you’re subscribed to our email newsletter. When you register your team with FIRST, we will automatically subscribe your coach1, coach2, and admin contacts. Anyone else can sign up through our subscription page.
To connect with other coaches and mentors, join our weekly Zoom call. We typically host these on Mondays from 7:30-8:30 pm, and frequently have referees and judge volunteers on the call to answer questions. We record these calls so you can watch them even if you can’t attend. The Zoom link is provided in our weekly email newsletter and recordings are available on our YouTube channel.