The inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition SoCal State Championship, presented by Qualcomm, took over the Anaheim Convention Center Arena April 9–12, 2026, bringing together 60 of Southern California’s top robotics teams and 1,200+ students for four days of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition, community, and celebration that could only happen here.

From the sunshine outside to the electric energy on the competition floor, the inaugural SoCal State Championship had a character all its own, diverse, creative, and brimming with the kind of ambition this region is known for. These teams earned their spot, battling through the inaugural FIRST California District season to compete at the highest level of FRC in Southern California.

Opening Ceremonies

The weekend’s opening moments set exactly the right tone. On Saturday, Natalie Taitano of Qualcomm, our presenting sponsor and a longtime champion of STEM in Southern California and beyond, took the stage alongside Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Leon, whose presence reflected the city’s pride in hosting this landmark event. On Sunday, the stage belonged to Michael Jobity, CEO of Jetson Infinity and FIRST alumni, whose journey from student competitor to tech entrepreneur was a living reminder of exactly why this program matters.

A Championship Week Full of Energy and Opportunity

The competition was just the beginning. The SoCal State Championship delivered a full lineup of experiences that made this event as much about futures as it was about robots:

• Mentor Breakfast: Friday morning kicked off with a well-deserved celebration for the mentors who make FIRST possible, the people behind the scenes who give their time, expertise, and dedication every single season.
• STEM for Everyone Career Roundtable: An incredible gathering of industry professionals from Google, UCLA Children’s Hospital, Lockheed Martin, LA28, Qualcomm, RTX, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Sandisk and Universal Creative gave students a front-row seat to the breadth of STEM careers available to them.
• Alumni Event: The alumni gathering drew a great crowd and featured guest speaker Brianne Wada of Qualcomm, a group photo, and prizes.
• Qualcomm Trivia: Students and attendees tested their knowledge for a chance to win some seriously cool prizesincluding an Arduino Uno Q and a Rubik Pi. Equal parts fun and educational, just like FIRST.
• Free Robot Glamour Shots: Because every robot deserves its moment in the spotlight.
• FLL & FTC Demos: The next generation of FIRST participants got to show what they’re made of, with FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge dispays.
• College and Scholarship Row: Students had the opportunity to connect with colleges and explore scholarship opportunities.

Officially Recognized by the California State Legislature

In a proud moment for the entire FIRST California community, the SoCal State Championship was officially recognized by the California State Legislature. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s office provided a legislative certificate honoring FIRST Robotics and its impact on STEM education and student innovation across the state. It is a meaningful acknowledgment of the work that students, mentors, volunteers, and partners pour into this program every single year.

Awards

• Impact Award Winners: Team 4201, Vitruvian Bots and Team 589, Falkon Robotics
• Winning Alliance: Team 4414, High Tide; Team 3476, Code Orange; Team 8119, TigerBotics
• Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Zoe E with Jaguar Robotics Team 7415, Gabriel D withThe Nerd Herd Team 687, Matthew H with NOMAD Team 6995, Ashlyn D with Team Spyder Team 1622
• Engineering Inspiration: Team 2429, The Blockheads
• Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

A heartfelt thank you to Qualcomm, our presenting sponsor, to the Anaheim Convention Center, and to every team, mentor, volunteer, and partner who made this first-ever championship an unforgettable one. 

Southern California, this is just the beginning.

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.

History was made at inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition NorCal State Championship, held April 9–12, 2026, at the Cow Palace Arena & Event Center in San Francisco. It brought together 60 of Northern California’s top high school robotics teams and 1,200+ students for four extraordinary days of FIRST® AGE™ REBUILT™ competition, community, and celebration.

These teams earned their spot advancing through the inaugural FIRST California District season to compete at the highest level of FRC competition in Northern California. The energy inside the Cow Palace was electric from the moment the doors opened, and the competition did not disappoint.

A Record-Breaking Weekend

The NorCal State Championship will be remembered for one match in particular that stopped everyone in their tracks: a world high score of 869 points and a world high losing score of 707 points set in the same match. A jaw-dropping moment that showcased just how elite the level of competition had become, and one that had the entire arena on its feet.

Inspiring Voices from Industry

The opening ceremonies brought together some of the most inspiring voices in STEM and technology:

• Debajit Ghosh, Distinguished Software Engineer, Platforms & Devices, Google
• Greg Corrado, Distinguished Scientist, Research, Technology and Society, Google
• Bryan Gerofsky, K-12 Program Manager, Hardware Engineering, Apple
• Empowerly

Beyond the Field: A Championship Week Full of Impact

What set this inaugural championship apart was the rich programming that surrounded the competition, turning the event into a true STEM community experience:

• STEM for Everyone Panel: Organized by a consortium of all-girl NorCal FRC teams, this special panel brought together representatives from Apple, PG&E, and NASA, alongside two student voices, for a powerful conversation about access, inclusion, and opportunity in STEM. A standout moment of the entire weekend.
• Mentor Appreciation Lunch: More than 100 mentors gathered for a dedicated lunch. A well-deserved celebration of the adults who give their time, expertise, and hearts to make FIRST possible for students across Northern California.
• School Field Trips: Approximately 300 students from local schools attended as part of organized field trips, many experiencing a FIRST event for the very first time. A powerful glimpse of the future of the program.
• FLL Explore Festival: Young innovators from FIRST LEGO League Explore had their moment in the spotlight, bringing the full FIRST family together under one roof.
• FLL Challenge & FTC Demos: Attendees got a front-row look at the breadth of FIRST programs in action, with demonstrations from FIRST LEGO League Challenge and FIRST Tech Challenge teams inspiring the next wave of participants.

Awards

• Impact Award Winners: Team 1678, Citrus Circuits; Team 1671, Buchanan Bird Brains
• Winning Alliance: Team 254, Cheesy Poofs; Team 1323, Madtown Robotics; Team 6238, Popcorn Penguins
• Leadership Award Semi-Finalists: Clarina M with The Janksters Team 1967, Reet B with Aragon Robotics Team 840, Riya M with Eaglestrike Team 114, Ryan L with Popcorn Penguins Team 6238
• Engineering Inspiration: Team 1868, The Space Cookies
• Full Awards List: 2026 Awards

From the record-breaking matches to the inspiring panels and packed pit areas, the inaugural NorCal State Championship proved that California’s robotics community is ready to set the standard for the rest of the country. A heartfelt thank you to every team, mentor, volunteer, sponsor, and community partner who helped make this first-ever championship an unforgettable one.

The future of STEM in Northern California has never looked brighter.

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.