General Info

This is the VEX Robotics Competition UK National Championships (High School) 2026 for the Push Back season!

The VEX Robotics UK National Championship will take place 27th February through to 2nd March at the Telford International Centre, Telford - birthplace of the first Industrial Revolution. The annual event brings together the top VEX IQ Robotics Competition and VEX V5 Robotics Competition teams from across the UK to celebrate their accomplishments and participate in the 2025-2026 games to be crowned National Champions.

V5RC teams will compete in the exciting 2025-2026 game Push Back to earn a spot at the VEX Robotics World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Qualification events are running across the country until mid-February. World Championship spots will be allocated per the RECF Qualifying Criteria. We will soon find out how many spots the United Kingdom has for the World Championships (as per Qualifying Criteria).

Event spots will begin to be filled from the Wait List and the National Skills Standings sometime in February. Ahead of that time, we can't confirm how many spots will be allocated from either as it will be determined by the number of open spots and invites at the time. Preference on the Wait List will be given to organisations that do not have teams already at the event, based on the number of events they have attended in the season.

Teams will receive further information and details around the event as and when they qualify as well as updates when the event gets close.

VEX UK Nationals Micro-Site:

Check out vexuknationals.co.uk for further information about the venue and event!

 

Further Important Information:

 

Accessibility Requests

Please let us know if you have any requests regarding accessibility at the VEX Robotics UK National Championships. This includes sensory and neurodiversity accessibility requests. Complete the form here

Adult Attendees

Are you an adult attending with a team? If so, you will need to pre-register before you are able to access the halls.

Follow this link to register for tickets. On site each adult will be issued with a wristband which will be required for access to the Hall.

Ceremonies

The Opening Ceremony/Drivers Meeting and the Finals will include changes in lighting, loud music, flashing lights and pyrotechnics. These elements are used to enhance the event atmosphere, but can cause distress or physical reactions in sensitive individuals. Anyone sensitive to bright, flashing, or flickering lights, or loud, sudden noises, should consider watching the ceremonies and Finals from the Brunel Division where they will be streamed.

Digital Engineering Notebooks

All Notebooks being considering for awards will need to be be submitted digitally. The process for this can be found in the RECF Library here. If you have a physical notebook, please ensure it can be presented in digital format. Please ensure the link is in your Robot Events account by 23:59 on 22nd February.

Drivers Meeting Questions

Do you have a question that you would like answered in the VEX UK Nationals Drivers Meeting by our team of Head Referees? We will prioritise questions sent ahead of the event. You can submit questions on the link here. (Please note, not all questions may be answered at the event, some may be answered ahead of the event via email).

Eye Protection is Mandatory

With reference to Rule S4 in the Game Manual. All competititors will need to be wearing eye protection. Anyone not wearing eye protection will not be allowed by a Division Competition Field, A Skills Field and may also be asked to leave the Practice Field area.

Fine Designs Branded Clothing

Fine Designs will be offering branded VEX UK Nationals merchandise at the event allowing you to personalise hoodies and t-shirts with your team number as a memento of the competition. Note: They will only be on site on Saturday and Sunday. Cash and card payments will be accepted.

Innovate Award

Teams must identify in their notebook a specific section or specific pages covering the origin and development of a design element, strategy, or other attribute that is a key part of their team’s robot design or gameplay. Details can be found here.

Inspection

Inspection for High School teams will take place in the Lovelace Division.

Medals

Medals will be available to collect on the second day of the event. While we endeavour to have medals available for all team members, any larger teams (8+) may not be able to get one per team member. Medals will also only be given to team members on site.

Payment Deadline

Please ensure all event registartions are paid in full (or a Purchase Order has been uploaded to RobotEvents) one week prior to the start of the event. The deadline is 20th February, any teams not paid in full at this point may be at risk of being removed from the event.

Pit Space

Every team will get a single pit space that is approx 6ft x 6ft/1.8m x 1.8m in floorspace. Each pit will include one 6ft table, 2 folding chairs and a rubbish bin. There will also be a single socket between two pits, so please bring an extension cable and work with your "pit mate" to share the access to power. 

Important Note: Teams may put partial fields in their pit space, but it must not extend outside of the pit space into any other organisations pit space or into the aisles. If teams do this, then they will be asked to remove the field. It is not possible to fit a full V5RC fiel into the pit space, please do not try. Teams can also not dismantle or change the layout of the pit by moving the Pipe and Drape, it must remain as it is built at the start of the event.

Practice Fields

There will be an increased number of Practice Fields this year, with 10 minute timers for use. When joining the queue for Practice Firlds, you must have your robot with you.

Skills Fields

When joining the queue for Skills Firlds, you must have your robot with you.

Smart Field Control

The event will use the VEX Smart Field Control system for controlling all matches and Skills runs. For further information, please review this article in the VEX Library.

Risk Assessment

The Event Risk Assessment can be found on the Documents tab, by clicking to the left.

Grade Level: High School

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: All In-Person Judging

Skills Challenge Offered for VURC/VAIRC teams: No