JBC Hong Kong Open

Name: Junior Botball Challenge Hong Kong Open 2026–27
Start: 2027-03-14
Location: Ying Wa College

14.03.2027

Ying Wa College · 1 Ying Wa Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon

Advance to the Finals in Beijing or the USA More details: Beijing ↗ More details: USA ↗

100% AutonomousNo Remote ControlAges 4–16Build · Program · CompeteEngineering + TeamworkUnlimited Trial

Where young minds
meet robots.

The Junior Botball Challenge is a global robotics program for ages 4–16. Born at MIT with over 20 years of educational heritage, it brings young learners across the U.S., Europe, and Asia onto the same game table.

The hands-on activities focus on improving computational thinking skills and promoting mastery of concepts. The program culminates in one-day public events where students showcase their robot designs and solutions.

This sustainable program provides reusable equipment, software, standards-aligned curriculum and professional development opportunities to enable you to teach your students to write code and cover engineering design standards.

Students gathered around the official Botball game table, robots mid-match — **FIG.01**On the Game Table · Match Day

Teams on stage with flags at the 2025 Junior Botball Challenge Global Finals in China — **FIG.02**JBC Global Finals 2025 · China

20+Years of heritage — born at MIT

4–16Years old — every kid welcome

25,000+Season participants worldwide

5,000+Finalists on the world stage

Mastery over
rivalry.

A student-built LEGO SPIKE robot on the official JBC game mat — any kit is welcome

MODE_01

No New Equipment Needed

Every robot and every kit is welcome — teams build and compete with the equipment they already have. There is nothing new to purchase.

A young competitor deep in a task-based challenge — coding on a tablet beside his robot

MODE_02

Task-Based Challenges

Age-appropriate missions inspired by real NASA challenges — hands-on problem-solving, one task at a time.

A JBC mentor kneels to guide young competitors at the game table — guidance over judgment

MODE_03

Encouraging Environment

Non-competitive by design. Unlimited attempts, guidance over judgment — every try is a chance to improve.

Two teammates huddled together over their robot and the game mat

MODE_04

Teamwork-Oriented

Small groups share ideas, divide the build, and celebrate every success together.

Beginner to
expert.

Young student building her first machine at a JBC event

LVL_01

Enlightenment

Construction basics and first simple machines — kindergarten · aged 8 or below · 1 person per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Use large-piece building blocks to construct transmission mechanisms
Engineering thinking for problem-solving with limited resources

Primary students programming their robot on the JBC game field

LVL_02

Explorer

Motorized motion builds — machines that move and do work — kindergarten · aged 8 or below · 1 person per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Small-piece assembly (e.g. LEGO 9686) with familiar transmission structures
Complete object-movement missions with a motorized build

LVL_03

Beginner

Basic mechanical control — kindergarten · aged 8 or below · 2–3 per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Use any programming method to control the robot — forward, backward, and turning
Break down simple robot movement actions into subtasks
Debug robot programs, independently navigate, and solve problems

LVL_04

Rookie

Basic robotic mission — accurate runs. Primary school or below · 2–3 per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Build simple, fully autonomous wheeled robots and adjust their structures
Control the robot to move forward, backward, and turn
Break down multiple movement actions into subtasks
Navigate independently and solve problems

LVL_05

Advanced

Autonomous mission — with sensors. Primary school or below · 2–3 per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Control the robot to perform coordinated movements
Use a single sensor to complete tasks
Control the robot to grasp simple objects

LVL_06

Expert

Precision control mission — with multiple sensors. Primary or secondary school · 2–3 per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Analyze tasks and formulate strategies
Control the robot to perform precise movements
Use multiple sensors to complete tasks such as line following and obstacle avoidance
Write clear, maintainable code

Older students debugging an advanced robot with a laptop at a JBC event

LVL_07

Botball Explorer

Open-ended engineering on your chosen platform — primary to secondary · up to 5 per team.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS //

Discovery: Grade 6 or below · Expedition: Grades 7–12
KIPR kit, LEGO SPIKE Prime, VEX IQ, Makeblock or other eligible platforms — max 15″ tall
Full engineering design process, from concept to test and improve

The official
game field

Official Botball JBC game field map — zone missions, 122 × 61 cm

Tap to enlarge

Zone missions — the field for Beginner, Rookie, Advanced and Expert levels.

Where we’ve
competed.

Teams on stage with flags at the 2025 Junior Botball Challenge Global Final in Beijing, China

AUG_2025 · Beijing, China

2025 JBC Global Final

Our teams took the world stage in Beijing, competing against top crews from every chapter at the Junior Botball Challenge Global Final.

Students competing at the 2026 Botball Hong Kong Open

JUN_2026 · Hong Kong

2026 Hong Kong Open

Home ground, full house — Hong Kong teams battled through seeding rounds and double elimination on the official game table.

Junior Botball Challenge Global Final stage in China, 2026

AUG_2026 · Beijing, China

2026 JBC Global Final

Back to Beijing for the season finale — Hong Kong’s best faced the world’s best under the Global Final lights.

Season timeline

SEP_242026

Info Session

Season briefing for Hong Kong teams — the challenge, the kit, and how to get started.

OCT_012026

HK Open Registration Opens

Sign-ups begin for the Hong Kong Open. Gather your crew and claim a spot.

Open now

FEB_012027

HK Open Registration Deadline

Final call — Hong Kong Open sign-ups close on February 1.

MAR_142027

Hong Kong Open

Competition day — seeding rounds and double elimination on the official game table. Sunday, 14 March 2027 — mark the calendar.

JUL_4–82027

GCER — Global Conference on Educational Robotics

July 4–8: top teams from every chapter meet at GCER in Tennessee, USA.

AUG2027

Global Final — China

Mid-August: the JBC Global Final in China closes out the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Hong Kong Open?

The Hong Kong Open takes place on Sunday, 14 March 2027 at Ying Wa College (1 Ying Wa Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon). The event schedule will be emailed to registered teams two weeks before the competition.

How do I register a team, and when is the deadline?

Registration is open now — fill in the online form: https://forms.gle/qB6AqecxVH4sCnZF9. The deadline is 1 February 2027. See the four registration steps in the competition guide.

How much does it cost to enter?

Entry fees are charged per student. See the fee table in the competition guide for details.

Who can take part, and what are the team sizes?

See eligibility and team sizes under Levels & Equipment in the competition guide.

Are there equipment restrictions?

No — there are no fixed hardware restrictions. See Levels & Equipment in the competition guide for details.

What awards can participants receive?

See Certificates & Advancement in the competition guide for details.

What happens if we do well?

Teams holding the "Future Engineer" certification are given priority invitation to the Junior Botball Global Finals (USA and China sessions), allocated on a first-come-first-served basis — registration for the world finals opens at 12:00 noon on 1 April 2027. The season also leads to GCER (Global Conference on Educational Robotics) in Tennessee, USA, 4–8 July 2027.

Who do I contact with questions?

Email us at botballhk@gmail.com, call or WhatsApp +852 6168 8141, or message us on Instagram or Facebook. Whether you're a parent, a teacher or a school, we'll help you get started.