NEWS

National Robotics Week 2026: leadership week expands nationwide

You know, National Robotics Week in 2026 is not quite what it used to be because it changed its name. Now it’s called National Robotics Leadership Week - or NRL Week. Instead of the old 9 day marathon started in 2015 we got a new 4 day format. The main idea is leadership, education and workforce development in robotics. That’s all got the new focus.

NRL events are being held all over the country - schools, universities, labs, robotics groups, etc. But there isn’t one big national schedule our days. Instead you need to go to the official site and check out what’s happening near your location and pick what is your interest.

nrw

As an example in 2026 you will find MassRobotics STEM Workshops in Boston beginning on April 6 to 10. Then the Hawaii State Elementary STEM Expo on April 2. And the FIRST A District Aerospace Valley Event in Lancaster, California wich is also on April 2. As you can see these events are spread out over different days and places all over the country. In other words - there is something going on almost everywhere.

Registration, participation and Transportation Details

According to rules each host takes care of their own registration and participation. On practice some events fill up very fast and you’ll need to sign up ahead of time but others are open to anyone who wants to join. One thing you should keep in mind is that spots are limited for a lot of these programs, so it’s better to sign up earlyer if you’re interested.

The host decides what to wear or how to get there to the event. Tours usually mean you’ll be walking around, sometimes on campus, sometimes off. If you need to get to a more remote spot for a tour - some events even provide transportation.

NRL Week is also about recognizing leaders - that`s something new. There are two main awards:

  • Top 50 Chief Robotics Officer
  • Top 100 Emerging Robotics Leaders

So, it’s not just only about robots - it`s also about the people behind them too.

If you want to take part in this event - everything goes through the National Robotics Week website. You can submit your own event or just look for something to join. The site keeps track of what’s happening encouraging everyone to get involved in the process.

So, the main thing is: National Robotics Week is still happening all over the country in different locations. But now format is a little bit about leadership and education and held 4 days. And with so many different hosts, there’s a lot to check out, no matter where you are.