On January 18, 2026, Capistrano Valley High School proudly hosted the Southern California FIRST LEGO League Championship, bringing together some of the region’s strongest and most dedicated young robotics teams for an exciting and demanding day of competition.

The championship welcomed 47 FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams and 40 FIRST LEGO League Explore teams, representing communities from across Southern California. From early morning robot check-ins to the final awards ceremony, the campus was filled with energy, teamwork, and a shared passion for learning through STEM.

This year’s championship proved to be a particularly tough competition, with teams demonstrating an exceptionally high level of preparation across all areas of the program. Challenge teams faced intense match play on the Robot Game fields while also navigating in-depth judging sessions that evaluated their Core Values, Innovation Project, Robot Design, and overall teamwork. Scores were close throughout the day, and judges noted how difficult it was to distinguish among many standout teams.

At the conclusion of the event, awards were presented to teams that exemplified excellence across multiple categories, including Champion’s Awards, Core Values, Innovation Project, Robot Design, Engineering Excellence, Breakthrough, Rising All-Star, and Motivation. In addition, a select group of Challenge teams earned advancement opportunities, recognizing their outstanding performance across both competition and judging.

The Explore teams brought creativity and enthusiasm to the event, proudly sharing their models and posters while engaging judges and volunteers with thoughtful explanations of their work. Their excitement and confidence reflected the strong mentorship and preparation behind each team.