FLL BIOGLOW Explained: A Parent's Guide to the 2026–27 Season

Oct 7

4 min read

FLL BIOGLOW is the 2026–27 FIRST LEGO League season, and its theme is biodiversity: the living systems that connect plants, animals, fungi, people, cities and wild places. Teams research a real biodiversity problem and design a solution (the Innovation Project), and they build and program a LEGO robot to score points on a themed table in 2.5-minute matches (the Robot Game). BIOGLOW is also a historic season, because it is the final FIRST LEGO League season before FIRST and LEGO Education launch separate programs in 2027–28.

This guide explains what BIOGLOW is, how it's judged, and how you can help at home.

What is BIOGLOW?

The BIOGLOW challenge was released at Kickoff on August 4, 2026. FIRST's season-wide theme for 2026–27 is CANOPY, and BIOGLOW is the FIRST LEGO League version of it. Teams are asked to explore how innovation can support biodiversity, help ecosystems recover, and build a healthier, more connected planet.

Like every FLL season, the theme ties together everything a team does, from the robot table to the research project. The specific missions and rules are published in the official BIOGLOW season materials, which every coach and parent should skim at least once.

Two editions this year: Founders and Future

This season comes in two versions, which is new and a little confusing:

Founders Edition is the classic format. It includes Explore (grades 2–4) and Challenge (grades 4–8). Challenge teams use LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robots and the BIOGLOW Founders Edition challenge set. This is the last FLL season where SPIKE robots are used.
Future Edition uses the new LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits (the same kit we use in our classes) and a different, more interactive game format where two teams share a table. In the US it's offered for grades K–2 and 3–8.

Most of the rest of this guide describes Founders Edition Challenge, the format most middle-school teams are competing in this year. Not sure which edition your child's team is in? Ask the coach.

The four parts of FLL Challenge

In Founders Edition Challenge, teams of up to 10 kids are scored in four areas, and all four carry equal weight:

Core Values: teamwork, discovery, inclusion, innovation, impact and fun. Judges look for how the team works together, not only what it built.
Innovation Project: the team picks a real problem connected to the theme, researches it, designs a solution, and shares it with others.
Robot Design: how the team planned, built, coded and improved its robot, and how well the kids can explain their choices.
Robot Game: the team's best score from 2.5-minute matches on the BIOGLOW table, which has 15 missions this season.

That equal weighting surprises many families. A team with an average robot but a strong project and great teamwork can do very well.

How judging works

At a tournament, the team meets with judges in a short session. The kids present their Innovation Project, explain their robot design and answer questions. Judges score the team with published rubrics and give written feedback. The Champion's Award goes to the team with the strongest combined result across all four areas.

The best way to prepare is to read the rubrics with your child early in the season. They describe exactly what "beginning," "developing," "accomplished" and "exceeds" look like.

The season timeline

August 4: Kickoff and challenge release.
Fall: teams build, code, test and research. Many keep an engineering notebook.
Late fall through winter: qualifying tournaments. Dates vary by region.
Winter and spring: championship events for advancing teams.

Robot Game tips that work every season

We won't share mission solutions, but these habits help any team score more consistently:

Group nearby missions into a few "runs" and plan a run order before writing code.
Use the same launch area alignment every time, with a jig or a wall to square up against.
Drive straight with the gyro sensor instead of timed motor commands. Our SPIKE Prime Python course teaches this, and our post on line following and PID control explains the idea behind it.
Design attachments that swap in a few seconds.
Run each mission 10 times in a row. If it doesn't work 8 out of 10 times, it isn't ready.

How parents can help

FLL is meant to be kid-led. The judges can tell when an adult built the robot or wrote the project. You help most by asking good questions ("What did you test? What would you change?"), keeping practices on schedule, and celebrating progress more than scores. Our FLL Robotics Journey for Parents course walks you through the season step by step.

Common questions

Is BIOGLOW really the last FIRST LEGO League season? Yes. Starting in 2027–28, FIRST launches its own K–8 programs and LEGO Education launches its own LEGO League. We explain what that means for your family in FIRST LEGO League Is Changing.

Should we buy a SPIKE Prime kit now? LEGO Education retired SPIKE in June 2026. For home learning, see our robotics kit guide before you buy anything.

Can parents help with the Innovation Project idea? Help by asking questions and connecting kids with experts, but let the team choose and develop the idea. That's what judges reward.

Get your child robot-ready

Whether your child is on a team this season or just curious about FLL, the coding and engineering skills carry over to whatever comes next. Start with our free and self-paced online courses, try All-Access for $39/month with a 7-day free trial, or ask about Remote 1-on-1 live lessons ($149/month) by texting (619) 786-5731.

If you're in San Diego, join our weekend group sessions in Scripps Ranch: 1.5 hours a week, ages 6–18, no more than 10 kids, and every child works on their own project at their own pace. Your first session is free. Text (619) 786-5731 to book it.