WRO USA Sanctioned National Event
WRO Chicago Open Qualifier 2026
August 12-14, 2026 | Student Center West, University of Illinois Chicago
Official Affiliations:
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Three days of WRO competition. Spots to Americas Open.
The WRO Chicago Open Qualifier 2026 is a WRO USA National Organizer sanctioned Regional Open Qualifier, hosted by Launchpad Robo Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago. Open to all eligible teams nationwide, this three-day competition gives teams the opportunity to compete across all WRO Open categories and earn qualification spots to the WRO Americas Open Championship 2026 in Ontario, California.
Whether your team is coming off the Affiliate Cup the week before or qualifying for the first time, Chicago in August is the place to be.
DATES
Aug 12-14, 2026
OPEN TO
Teams nationwide
CATEGORIES
All WRO Open
QUALIFIES FOR
Americas Open '26
SCHEDULE
Event Schedule Overview
| Day | Date | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | August 12, 2026 | Practice and build day |
| Day 2 | August 13, 2026 | Competition day |
| Day 3 | August 14, 2026 | Competition and awards |
Full schedule including check-in times and round details will be published closer to the event.
VENUE
Student Center West, University of Illinois Chicago
Address. Student Center West, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL.
By transit. CTA Blue Line to IL Medical District (IMD) station.
By car. On-campus parking is available. Daily and event rates apply.
Airports. Midway (MDW): about 10 miles, 20-30 minutes by car. O'Hare (ORD): about 18 miles, 30-45 minutes by car.
COMPETITION
Which category is your team competing in?
RoboMission Elementary
Ages 8-12
Autonomous robot completing themed missions on a randomized field.
RoboMission Junior
Ages 11-15
Advanced missions requiring sophisticated programming and decisions.
RoboMission Senior
Ages 14-19
Most complex field missions requiring high-level design strategy.
Future Innovators
Elementary 8-12 · Junior 11-15 · Senior 14-19
Project-based: design, build, and present an original robotics solution to a real-world problem. Free choice of hardware and software.
RoboSports
Ages 11-19
Head-to-head match play with two autonomous robots in a sports game.
Future Engineers
Ages 14-22
Self-driving car challenge with autonomous track navigation.
WHY THIS EVENT
Why teams come to Chicago
Qualifying spots to Americas Open
Top-placing teams in each category earn spots at the WRO Americas Open Championship 2026 in Ontario, California. This is the first year Americas Open is hosted in the USA.
Organized by experienced WRO competitors and judges
Launchpad Robo Lab's founders have represented the USA at WRO international events across three continents, as competitors, coaches, and an international judge in Singapore 2025. National top-10 coaching record.
A venue built for the event
Student Center West at the University of Illinois Chicago. Easy CTA Blue Line access, two airports within 45 minutes, and downtown Chicago a short ride away.
Timed to fit your season
Just after the Affiliate Cup, so out-of-state teams can travel once for two events. Mid-August in Chicago.
Ready to register?
All WRO Open categories. Spots to Americas Open. Open to teams nationwide.
Open registration →HOTELS
Recommended hotels
Hotel recommendations with team-friendly rates are being finalized.
We'll publish the list here and share it with newsletter subscribers as soon as it's confirmed.
VOLUNTEER
High School volunteers
We're recruiting high school student volunteers to help run the event. Volunteers receive recognized community service hours, certified through WRO USA.
Roles include scoring assistant, table runner, registration desk, and team escort. Volunteers attend a short briefing session before the event.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
DAY OF EVENT
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ACCESSIBILITY