FIRST® LEGO® League Advancement in Texas
Texas FIRST® LEGO® League teams move through a regional competition pathway before reaching statewide or international opportunities. Check out the sections below for more guidance on how advancement and events work in Texas.
Understanding the Advancement Pathway
The graphic below shows the primary ways Texas teams may move through the season.
Teams begin at a Qualifying Tournament. Each region will host at least one Regional Championship; some regions will host 2 regional events due to the region’s size.
Regional Championships are the next level of competition before a team can advance into the Texas FLL Challenge Championship.
The Texas FLL State Championship welcomes teams from all 6 of the FLL regions across the state to compete in a 64-team event! Texas is granted a limited number of slots each year to attend the 2026 - 2027 FIRST Championship. Advancement to the 2026 - 2027 FIRST Championship is based on the team’s Champion’s rank.
Find Your Region’s Events
Each region’s page will show the events and their location. Note that if you are located in one region, you are not eligible to compete in another region’s qualifying event.
REGION PAGES LAUNCHING SOON.
Understanding Event Types
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Local competitive events where teams participate in the Robot Game, Innovation Project, Robot Design, and Core Values judging. Qualifiers provide teams with an opportunity to demonstrate their work and may advance eligible teams to their Regional Championship based on the advancement slots allocated to the event.
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Regional Championships bring together teams that advance from local qualifying events. Depending on the number of teams in a region, a region may host one or two Regional Championships. Eligible teams advance from these events to the Texas State Championship based on the number of advancement slots allocated to each region.
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The 64-team Texas State Championship brings together advancing teams from across Texas, including teams from the UTEP region. Invitations are based on the advancement slots allocated to each local Regional Championship. Teams compete for statewide recognition and potential advancement to the FIRST Championship or an FLL Challenge Invitational.
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The FIRST Championship is the culminating international event of the FIRST season, bringing together advancing teams from around the world. The number of invitations available to Texas teams is determined by FIRST Headquarters based on the overall number of team slots available at the event.
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FLL Challenge Invitationals provide additional opportunities for teams to compete with teams from other states, regions, and countries. The number of invitations available to Texas is determined by FIRST Headquarters and each Invitational event. Teams participating in the Texas State Championship will complete an Invitational preference form. Invitations will be offered to eligible teams based on their State Championship performance, available slots, and stated preferences.
Select an event below to learn where it fits within the Texas advancement pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Eligible teams may advance from the Texas State Championship to the FIRST Championship. The number of available advancement slots is allocated to Texas by FIRST Headquarters and is based on the total number of team slots available at the FIRST Championship.
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No. Each team may compete in only one official qualifier and must compete within its assigned region. This ensures all teams have an equitable opportunity to advance through their regional tournament pathway.
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All judging at official FLL Challenge events in Texas will be conducted in person. Teams will participate in a single judging session covering the Innovation Project, Robot Design, and FIRST Core Values. Judging will follow the official BIOGLOW rubrics and materials provided by FIRST Headquarters.
Find more at FLL Game & Season Info.
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Each region will have a dedicated webpage with information about local season kickoffs, Get Ready Events, Qualifiers, Regional Championships, and other events and opportunities available within that region.
Regional groups are still working to secure event hosts and confirm event details, so please watch for announcements and updates through the newsletter.