Robots Meet Culture at WRO Cyprus 2026

The WRO Cyprus (World Robot Olympiad) National Robotics Competition will take place on Saturday, 19 September 2026, at the European University Cyprus.

WRO Cyprus is organized by the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, in collaboration with STEM Education Hellas and IET Cyprus. The event is supported by XM as a Tech Partner, and is hosted by the European University Cyprus.

The competition is open to primary and secondary school students, who are invited to design, build, and program robots to solve challenges on the competition fields, according to their age category and the global annual theme. 

The WRO® Theme for 2026 is “Robots Meet Culture”. 

Teams will explore will explore how robots can help shape, protect, and grow art and culture in today’s world. From ancient cave paintings to modern digital art, from fashion to architecture, people have always used creativity to tell stories, preserve traditions, and inspire change. And robots are becoming creative partners and protectors of our cultural history. They can bring old art back to life, help create new and exciting forms of art and make cultural treasures easier to access for people everywhere. Robots can also help communities share their stories in new and powerful ways.

Two International Competitions for the Winning Teams

The winning teams in each age category (Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary) will have the opportunity to represent Cyprus at two major international World Robot Olympiad events. Specifically:

• 1st Place: World Robot Olympiad™ International Final 2026, Puerto Rico, 8–10 December 2026.
• 2nd Place: WRO® Open Championship Europe 2026, Zagreb, Croatia, 13–16 October 2026.

The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) is expected to provide financial support to the teams representing Cyprus, subject to the approval of the relevant funding application.

A New Era for WRO

Since 2025, WRO has evolved into a more open, accessible and innovative competition. The key changes, which also apply to the 2026 competition, include:

• Open Platform: In addition to LEGO platforms, teams may now use any educational robotics platform, including Kypruino, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Makeblock, and others.
• Simplified Competition Process: Teams are no longer required to disassemble and reassemble their robots at the competition venue. Robots may be brought fully assembled and pre-programmed.
• The Surprise Rule: Shortly before the competition begins, an additional "Surprise Rule" will be announced. Teams will be given a limited amount of time to adapt their robot's programming to successfully complete this unexpected challenge.

Information & Registration

For the complete competition rules for each age category, please visit:
https://wrocyprus.org/

Robotics coaches and mentors are invited to complete the online registration form.

For further information or clarification, please contact Christina Papamiltiadou at [email protected].