Michigan FIRST LEGO League Challenge Qualifying Advancement Policy – BIOGLOW 2026
DRAFT – updated 10/10/2026. Advancing-team counts are preliminary and will be finalized after event registration closes.
Championship Registration and Notification
- There is no individual team registration for the Michigan State Championship.
- Each qualifying event’s Tournament Director emails the list of advancing teams to the Michigan FIRST LEGO League Challenge Program Director. All advancing teams will be emailed no later than Monday, December 14, 2026, after all qualifying events have ended.
Championship Rules
- Teams advance based only on the qualifying tournament they attend. Teams may not switch Championship days.
- If an advancing team cannot attend the Championship, it must notify its Tournament Director immediately so the next qualifying team from that event can be invited.
- Teams that may be invited should not disassemble their robots until after the Championship.
- Alternates will be invited if teams decline or if room remains.
Advancement Criteria
- Advancement is based on a team’s combined performance in all four areas: Core Values, Innovation Project, Robot Design, and Robot Performance (robot game scores).
- Teams must be well rounded. Award winners, including teams with the top robot scores, may not advance. Teams that did not receive an award may advance if they performed well across all areas.
- Advancement decisions are final. No changes are made after an event ends.
- Teams that violate the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Participation Rules are not eligible for awards or advancement.
- Teams must meet the FIRST in Michigan progression of programs requirements: students in grades 4–5, grade 6 students who attend an elementary school, and individual grade 3 students who are “playing up.”
Post-Championship Advancement
- Each Championship day advances an equal number of teams to available post-championship events:
- FIRST World Championship Festival: to be confirmed soon
- Open Invitationals: update coming soon
Michigan State Championship Events
| Event | Date | Location | Teams Competing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Championship I | Saturday, December 19, 2026 | Mason High School, Mason, MI | 48 |
| Michigan State Championship II | Sunday, December 20, 2026 | Mason High School, Mason, MI | 48 |
Qualifying Tournaments and Advancing Teams
***These numbers will change as more teams register and fill spots.
Championship I (Saturday, December 19)
| Qualifying Tournament | Date | Advancing Teams* |
|---|---|---|
| Covert Robotics Competition | Nov 7 | 1 |
| Movin’ U.P. | Nov 14 | 1 |
| Robostangs On Season Competition | Nov 14 | 5 |
| That ONE Robo Battle of the Minds | Nov 14 | 2 |
| ThunderQuest | Nov 14 | 6 |
| Bulldog Classic Flint | Nov 21 | 3 |
| Grandville Robot Challenge | Nov 21 | 3 |
| Lancer-Bot-Mania | Nov 21 | 2 |
| SharkFest | Nov 21 | 6 |
| Armada Automation | Nov 22 | 2 |
| Electro Eagles Lego Extravaganza | Dec 5 | 4 |
| Freeland Ready Set Lego | Dec 5 | 4 |
| Kentwood FLLC Competition | Dec 5 | 2 |
| Leland FLL Challenge Qualifier | Dec 5 | 1 |
| NMU Seaborg Center FLL Challenge Qualifier | Dec 5 | 2 |
| Rambotics Challenge | Dec 5 | 1 |
| EGR Challenge Qualifier | Dec 12 | 3 |
| Total | 48 |
Championship II (Sunday, December 20)
| Qualifying Tournament | Date | Advancing Teams* |
|---|---|---|
| Belleville FLL Challenge | Nov 7 | 5 |
| Motor City Brick Bash | Nov 7 | 3 |
| Holt RoboRams 1 | Nov 14 | 3 |
| Michigan Science Center Qualifier | Nov 14 | 3 |
| Holt RoboRams 2 | Nov 15 | 3 |
| Clare Kiwanis | Nov 21 | 3 |
| Compete at the Creek | Nov 21 | 4 |
| Linden LEGO Challenge | Nov 21 | 3 |
| Southwest Showdown | Nov 21 | 5 |
| Bedford Challenge Qualifier | Dec 5 | 2 |
| Gull Lake FLL Challenge Event | Dec 5 | 3 |
| Royal Rally 1 | Dec 5 | 4 |
| Yellowjacket Jubilee – Concord Robotics | Dec 5 | 3 |
| Royal Rally 2 | Dec 6 | 4 |
| Total | 48 |
*Preliminary. The number of teams advancing from each event is proportional to the number of teams registered at that event, with at least one team advancing from every event. Final numbers will be posted before the first qualifying event on November 7.
