Is FIRST LEGO League Ending? What the FIRST–LEGO Split Means for Families
Yes, in its current form. The 2026–27 BIOGLOW season is the final FIRST LEGO League season. After it, FIRST and LEGO Education go separate ways: LEGO Education launches its own LEGO League for ages 5–16 in August 2027, and FIRST launches its own next-generation K–8 robotics programs for the 2027–28 season. Your child isn't losing anything this year, and next year families will have two paths to choose from instead of one.
Here's what changed, what stays the same, and what parents can do right now.
What's actually happening
For more than 25 years, FIRST LEGO League has been a partnership between FIRST (the non-profit that runs the competitions) and LEGO Education (which makes the kits). That partnership is ending. Here are the key facts, straight from the official announcements:
BIOGLOW (2026–27) is the last season under the FIRST LEGO League name.
LEGO Education is launching its own competition, LEGO League, for ages 5–16, starting August 2027. It's built around the new LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits, and SPIKE will also be allowed in the 2027–28 season.
FIRST is launching its own next-generation K–8 programs for 2027–28 on its own platform. Those programs stay compatible with SPIKE through the 2028–29 season.
LEGO Education retired SPIKE on June 30, 2026.
You can read the details yourself on FIRST's K–8 program page, LEGO Education's LEGO League program update and its partnership update.
What this means for the 2026–27 season
Nothing changes this season. BIOGLOW runs like any other FIRST LEGO League year: teams build and code a robot for the robot game, research a real-world problem for the Innovation Project, and are judged on Core Values, robot design and teamwork. Tournaments, rules and timelines work the way they always have.
If your child is on a team this year, the best advice is simple: enjoy it. It's a special season to be part of. If you're new to how the competition works, our post Explore the FIRST LEGO League Challenge and our FLL Robotics Journey for Parents course explain the basics.
What happens in 2027–28: two paths
Starting in fall 2027, families who love competitive LEGO-style robotics will choose between two programs:
LEGO League (LEGO Education): ages 5–16, launching August 2027, using the LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kits (SPIKE also allowed in 2027–28).
FIRST's new K–8 programs: run by FIRST on its own platform, launching for 2027–28 and compatible with SPIKE through 2028–29.
Many details, like registration, costs and exact challenge formats, are still being announced. We'll keep reading the official updates and sharing what we learn in plain English.
What about the SPIKE kit you already own?
Don't panic, and don't rush to sell it. Even though LEGO Education no longer sells SPIKE new, it stays useful for a while: FIRST's new programs support SPIKE through 2028–29, and LEGO League allows SPIKE in its first season. Just as important, everything your child learns on SPIKE (motors, sensors, gyro turns, Python or block coding) transfers to whatever robot comes next.
If you're thinking about buying a kit for home, our robotics kit guide walks through what our coaches recommend right now. In our own classes, we already teach with the new LEGO Education Computer Science & AI kit, and an online course for it is coming soon.
Skills that carry over no matter which path you choose
Competitions change names. Skills don't. The things that help kids succeed in either program are the same:
Reading and writing code, first in blocks, then in Python
Using sensors (color, distance, gyro) to make a robot react to the world
Breaking a big problem into small, testable steps
Building sturdy mechanisms and attachments
Explaining your thinking and working as a team
A child who practices these now will be ready for LEGO League, FIRST's new programs, or later competitions like FTC.
What parents can do right now
Enjoy BIOGLOW. It's the last season of a long tradition.
Keep building skills at home with self-paced lessons, like our SPIKE Prime Python course or the free Scratch course.
Hold off on big hardware purchases until registration details for 2027–28 are clearer.
Bookmark the official FIRST and LEGO Education update pages linked above.
Give your child weekly hands-on time with a coach, so the learning keeps going between seasons.
Common questions
Is FIRST LEGO League ending?
The FIRST LEGO League program as we know it ends after the 2026–27 BIOGLOW season. LEGO Education and FIRST will each run their own programs starting in 2027–28.
Will my child's SPIKE Prime still be useful?
Yes. FIRST's new K–8 programs stay compatible with SPIKE through 2028–29, and LEGO League allows SPIKE in 2027–28. The coding and building skills carry over to any kit.
Which program should we choose for 2027–28?
It's too early to decide for most families. Both programs are still sharing details. Focus on skills this year, and compare the options once registration information is published.
Keep your young engineer building
Whatever happens with competitions, the best preparation is steady, fun practice. Start with our online courses: several are free, and All-Access is $39/month with a 7-day free trial. Prefer a live teacher? Remote 1-on-1 lessons are $149/month (text (619) 786-5731).
Live in San Diego? Join our weekend group sessions in Scripps Ranch: 1.5 hours a week, ages 6–18, max 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.
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