FIRST Global Challenge Central Asia 2026

From August 24 to 26, the Kazakh National University of Sport in Astana is hosting the FIRST Global Challenge Central Asia 2026, which will determine Kazakhstan's national robotics team. The winning team will represent the country at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026 world championship, scheduled for October 7–10 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, according to the Modern Education magazine, citing the press service of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From August 24 to 26, the Kazakh National University of Sport in Astana is hosting the FIRST Global Challenge Central Asia 2026, which will determine Kazakhstan's national robotics team. The winning team will represent the country at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026 world championship, scheduled for October 7–10 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, according to the Modern Education magazine, citing the press service of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The competition is organized by the USTEM Foundation public fund, with the support of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Daryn Republican Scientific and Practical Center, the Astana Hub international innovation cluster, and the OMODA&JAECOO brand (part of Astana Motors).

The event brings together about 40 teams from Kazakhstan and leading teams from Uzbekistan. Over the course of three days, students will present engineering projects and technical portfolios, demonstrate programming, engineering thinking, and teamwork skills, and complete tasks on the official FIRST Global Challenge game field.

The theme for the 2026 competition, Igniting Innovation, focuses on applying engineering and technological solutions to prevent wildfires, mitigate their consequences, and restore affected areas. Participants must design and program robots to perform tasks in a simulated environment.

The winner of the national selection will earn the right to represent Kazakhstan at the world championship, which will unite students from more than 190 countries. Competitors will not only showcase their robotics skills but also collaborate in international teams to solve global technological challenges.

In recent years, Kazakhstan has demonstrated stellar results at the FIRST Global Challenge. The national team won the world championship for four consecutive years – from 2022 to 2025 – solidifying the country's position as a leader in international school robotics.

Starting in 2026, educational opportunities have expanded for winners and prize-tappers of major international Olympiades and scientific project competitions. The FIRST Global Challenge has been added to the list of international scientific project competitions whose winners and medalists can apply for the international Bolashak scholarship under the undergraduate category, opening up new pathways for the academic and professional development of talented Kazakhstani students.