2026 Florida Kickoff Locations

JANUARY 10, 2026

Kickoff ignites the start of the 2026 FIRST® Robotics Competition season and is when the new game is revealed!

Whether teams have 15 or 50 (or 100!) students, we have exciting new challenges so everyone can get in the game this season.
Join FIRST® faves from around the world, FIRST Founder Dean Kamen, FIRST Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Rake, and special guests as we reveal the 2026 game and other season details.

Tallahassee

kickoff

FL-TALLAHASSEE-FAMU-FSU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING KICKOFF

FAMU/FSU College of Eng
2525 Pottsdamer Street
Tallahassee, FL 32310

The Schedule

9:00 AM Check in and Networking
9:30 Welcome, Team Intros, Agenda
12:00 noon Kickoff broadcast: Live kickoff show including field reveal, game manual code, and special guests.
Kits are not to be distributed until AFTER the broadcast is complete (Approx 1pm ET).
1:00pm Kit distribution
2:00pm End of day

Who is allowed to pick up a kickoff kit:

Lead 1 or 2 mentor for the team with photo ID
The person over 18 that is listed on the Surrogate Kit Pick-up Letter with photo ID

WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DISTRIBUTE KITS TO ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY ARE A SURROGATE WITHOUT A SURROGATE LETTER THAT HAS COME FROM FIRST.

You will need to send a surrogate kit pick-up letter to FIRST HQ By THURSDAY, January 8th.

The Workshops

	Room 1	Room 2
10:00-10:50 Session 1	Scouting & Strategy with Ben Shuman from RadioActive Roaches	Team Management/Business team Q&A Panel Fundraising, Culture, Imagery, etc!
11:00–11:50 Session 2	Technical Panel (Including Tech Judging & Inspection insights)	Judging Review, Insights & Myth Busting All about the judged awards, submitted and event judged. What’s New in 2026 and Q & A