End of an Era: LEGO and FIRST part ways
FLL Coaches - “Both my parents are divorcing & I don’t know what to do!”
2026 has been a whirlwind of news around First Lego League. In January, we were informed about FIRST® LEGO® League - Future Edition, and the introduction of a new CS & AI kit, with SPIKE Prime being EOL by 2031.
FIRST and LEGO Education released statements on their respective websites about ending their 28-year partnership.
From LEGO®
Since 1998 we have partnered with FIRST® to inspire kids through STEM learning. As we look to the future, we’ve decided not to renew our partnership with FIRST. The 2026-2027 FIRST® LEGO® League season will be our last together.
From FIRST®
Today, we are sharing an update about the future of this collaboration. LEGO Education has chosen not to renew our partnership agreement. The 2026-2027 season will be our final season, after which FIRST LEGO League will conclude. We will move forward with the 2026-2027 season as planned and remain dedicated to delivering a high-quality, engaging experience throughout.
World Robotic Olympiad - WRO
World Robotic Olympiad is another association, which ran RoboMission using LEGO Spike Prime. LEGO parted ways with WRO back in 2023.
With this message we announce that LEGO® Education has decided to not continue as sponsor of World Robot Olympiad™ (WRO®) when the current agreement expires on 31 December 2024. LEGO® Education will continue as a sponsor and support WRO through the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
What’s Next?
LEGO Education is moving towards a new direction focused on Computer Science and AI, while FIRST® is developing its own next-generation K–8 programs. The 2026–2027 season is the final collaborative season, with LEGO® Education planning to launch their own separate program for 2027–2028. We are optimistic that, despite the end of an era, this divergence will create opportunities for new ecosystems and technologies in STEM education.
Considering competitive market dynamics, students will have two new offerings, one from FIRST® and one from LEGO®, who are coming up with their own programs going forward. This gives students an opportunity to explore new programs and pick the one (or both!) that aligns with their goals and ambitions.
We are investing in the CS & AI kit, have the SPIKE Prime kit on hand, and are also keeping our eyes and ears open to the new changes coming. Our teams will participate in the last FIRST LEGO League, and going forward we’ll invest in the plan that helps students grow towards the future.
Change is the ONLY Constant