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The 2026 WRO Season is here!
2026 Rules out now!
What is WRO?
World Robot Olympiad™ (WRO) is an event incorporating science, technology, education and robotics which brings together young people from all over the world to develop their creativity and problem-solving skills through challenging and educational robotics competitions. Teams can compete in any provincial competition to be eligable for the National Final. All competing teams are ranked nationally, and from this ranking list, the top 10 to 15 teams are invited to attend and compete in the National event in Gauteng. Teams winning their category stand a chance to be invited to represent South Africa at the WRO international event.
How it Works
ARE YOU UP FOR A CHALLENGE?
In the World Robot Olympiad there are 4 Challenge types to choose from and a further 3 South African Created Challenges!
Each with their own age groups, rules and requirements:
International Challenges
By competing in these challenges teams are eligible for entry into the International WRO Final if they have qualified at the official WRO SA National Event.
Robo Mission
Teams must assemble robots that can solve a specific problem. The fastest robot around the course that completes all the tasks successfully will be the winner.
Future Innovators
Teams must present designs for robots, based on a theme. There will be four judging categories and the team with the most points will be the winner.
Robo Sports
Teams design robots that compete against another team. The robots are coded to play the game autonomously. The sport that is played by the robots changes every 2-3 years.
Future Engineers
An engineering challenge for college and university students to build self-driving vehicles.
This challenge requires teams to build, document and present solutions.
South Africa Only Challenges
These challenges have no International component and may be run as an in-house challenge, provincial challenge or national challenge depending on the decision by the WRO SA National Organizer.
Explorer Challenge
Teams arrive with a pre-built robot chassis.
Must program the robot on the day of competition. Teams can log a maximum of 4 scores and are awarded certificates based on their highest score.
This competition has a National Final.
In-House Challenge
Coaches run their own In-House Challenge Event. Following the In-House General Rules and submit their teams best score to the WRO SA website to receive a certificate of accomplishment.
3 different challenges, 3 different difficulties.
Once off payment for unlimited In-House Challenge team entries.
Open to any robotics and coding platform.
Challenge 1 suitable for WeDo & SPIKE Essential Robots
WRO 2026 THEME
This years WRO International Final is being hosted in Puerto Rico!
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In 2026 teams will explore how robots can help shape, protect, and grow art and culture in today’s world. From ancient cave paintings to modern digital art, from fashion to architecture, people have always used creativity to tell stories, preserve traditions, and inspire change. And robots are becoming creative partners and protectors of our cultural history. They can bring old art back to life, help create new and exciting forms of art and make cultural treasures easier to access for people everywhere. Robots can also help communities share their stories in new and powerful ways.
When Robots Meet Culture endless possibilities arise!
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