Contact
Jenny Gramsch
Phone: 03677 69-3288
Jenny Gramsch
Phone: 03677 69-3288
January 2026 Competition
On January 10, 2026, the Technical University of Ilmenau will host the FIRST LEGO League regional competition—and with the new “UNEARTHED” season, we’re diving deep into the world of archaeology this time!
Under the motto “UNEARTHED – Discover the Past, Shape the Future,” around 80 young researchers from seven schools in the region will set out to rediscover hidden treasures and ancient cultures. Their mission: to use LEGO robotics, creativity, and team spirit to explore artifacts, decipher stories, and develop visionary ideas for tomorrow.
The Humboldtbau opens its doors at 9:00 a.m.—and then the day begins, filled with excitement, a thirst for discovery, and innovation. The teams will compete against each other in several disciplines:
You can view the detailed schedule here.
Those who prove themselves can qualify for the next round—with a chance to make it all the way to the grand finale.
Whether via livestream or in person—come on by, get inspired, and join us in discovering what lies beneath the surface!
Guests are welcome throughout the entire event—whether at the impressive IlmBricks exhibition, getting hands-on in the audience competition, at the interactive stations run by the Thuringian State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and Archaeology (TLDA), or during the jury deliberations!
The FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is a program designed to introduce children and teenagers to science and technology in a competitive atmosphere. The goal is to make science subjects more accessible and to spark their interest in pursuing a career in engineering or IT at an early age.
The goal is to:
The research and robotics competition combines the fun of technology and science with the exciting atmosphere of a sporting event. Working in teams, the children and teens tackle a shared challenge just like real engineers. They plan, program, and test a fully automated robot to complete tricky missions. They have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience working with complex technologies and to improve their problem-solving skills—all while having a lot of fun and using their imagination!
All information about the First Lego League in general
FIRST LEGO League is an international educational program. It was launched in 1998 by the American foundation FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the nonprofit organization HANDS on TECHNOLOGY e.V. has been organizing the educational program since 2002.
Each year, the theme of the research and robotics competition addresses a different social issue. The competition takes place in four categories: In the “Robot Game,” teams compete against each other with robots they have built and programmed themselves. On a playing field measuring nearly four square meters, the robots must autonomously complete various tasks to earn points. In the “Research” category, the winning team is the one that impresses the judges with creative scientific solutions and a well-founded presentation of its research findings. The trophy for the best “Robot Design” goes to the team that builds an innovative, robust robot and explains the development process most convincingly to the judges. And in the “Core Values” category, the winning team is the one that demonstrates the greatest enthusiasm, the strongest sportsmanship, and respect for its own teammates and for the opposing teams. The team that earns the most points overall qualifies for the next level of the competition before advancing to the grand Lego League D-A-CH Final.
More information is available here
