The 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition Glendale District Event, held March 27 to 29 at Glendale High School, marked the inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition event hosted in Glendale. The event brought together 37 high school teams from across California for a high-energy weekend of innovation and competition as part of the new FIRST California District model.
Students designed, built, and competed with industrial-sized robots in the 2026 FIRST® AGE archaeology-themed game, working in alliances to solve complex engineering challenges while demonstrating teamwork, creativity, and technical skill. The event welcomed hundreds of students, mentors, volunteers, and spectators, highlighting Glendale’s growing role in supporting STEM education and hands-on learning opportunities.
Opening ceremonies featured remarks from Arda Tchakian on behalf of State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, and Glendale Councilwoman Elen Asatryan, recognizing the importance of programs like FIRST in developing the next generation of innovators and leaders.
Teams traveled from across the state to compete in this Week 4 district event, earning valuable points toward qualification for the Southern California District Championship. As the first event of its kind in Glendale, the competition established a strong foundation for continued growth, community engagement, and expanded access to STEM opportunities in the region.
Awards
- Impact Award Winner: Team 3501, Firebots
- Winning Alliance: Team 7415, Jaguar Robotics; Team 6995, NOMAD; Team 2404, NEY Techs (TNT)
- Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Zoe E with Jaguar Robotics Sponsored By Feit Electric Team 7415, Demir G with Harvard Westlake Robotics Team 1148
- Engineering Inspiration: Team 4, Element
- Full Awards List: 2026 Awards
A heartfelt thank you to all teams, mentors, volunteers, and sponsors who helped write the first chapter of the Glendale District Event.
Feel free to download and share any of these photos. You can tag FIRST California at @firstroboticscalifornia on Instagram and use hashtags #FIRSTinCA, #morethanrobots, #omgrobots, #REBUILT and #FIRSTAGE.