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.

Wisconsin FIRST Calendar

Important Changes Coming to FLL

3/19/2026: Important News from FIRST: LEGO Education Partnership Update

FIRST has made a significant announcement today regarding the future of its partnership with LEGO Education. We are carefully reviewing the details and working to understand what this means for our teams, students, coaches and community. In the meantime, we advise that you pause before purchasing the new LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits.

We encourage you to read the official press release directly from FIRST:

Read the Official Announcement

Wisconsin FLL

For the 2026–2027 season, Wisconsin FLL will only offer Founders Edition (SPIKE™-based) events. Wisconsin FLL will not offer Future Edition (LEGO Education Computer Science & AI-based) events. Thus, the 2026–2027 WI FLL season is expected to look like prior seasons, with a new theme, of course.

LEGO Education SPIKE technology, as well as its predecessors (EV3s, Mindstorms), will continue to be allowed in FIRST's K–8 programs through 2028–2029.

If you have already pre-ordered or purchased LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits, we recommend reaching out to LEGO to start the return/refund process here.

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, subscribe to our weekly FLL newsletter if you are not already, 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

FIRST LEGO League FAQs

Updated 01/12/2026
Updated 01/30/2026
Updated 03/20/2026

Official LEGO Communications

03/19/2026 — Important update about FIRST® LEGO® League

Important Dates/Deadlines

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 be released. This includes information around rules, the rubric and judging materials and other specifics about the game that teams need to know. 
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.

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 4/10/2026.

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 2026–2027 season begin?

FIRST will launch the new 2026–2027 season on August 4, 2026. Many details for the 2026–2027 season will be released including information around rules, the rubric and judging materials, and other specifics about the game that teams need to know. 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.

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.