The United States Governor's Cup
Get ready for robotics history in the making! The United States Governor’s Cup is an inaugural FIRST® Tech Challenge event hosted by the U.S. Department of Education and Experiential. At this exhibition and scrimmage style competition, one team from every U.S. state will be selected by their Governor to proudly represent their state on the national stage.
From February 19–22, 2026, the iconic DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. will come alive with the energy of students, robots, and innovation on display.
The United States Governor’s Cup is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of the next generation of STEM leaders, showcasing how the FIRST community inspires students to dream big, think boldly, and shape the future.
FIRST Tech Challenge Teams will be playing DECODE presented by RTX, the 2025-2026 FIRST Tech Challenge game.
For questions, contact FIRST Team Support at 800-871-8326 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM ET), by email at [email protected], or via chat at www.firstinspires.org.
Details and Criteria:
- Applications released to United States FIRST Tech Challenge Teams: October 2, 2025
- Deadline for Applications: October 31, 2025
- Notification of teams selected by Governors no later than: December 12, 2025
- Full details of event, including available grant funding, released to selected teams no later than: December 19, 2025
- United States Cup Event date: February 19 - 22, 2026
- Must be a FIRST Tech Challenge team from the 50 United States that has completed, or is in the process of completing, registration for the 2025-2026 season. Teams must complete their registration for the 2025-2026 season prior to October 31, 2025 to be eligible.