Robotex Cyprus 2026 returns this weekend with its largest participation since the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting the growing interest in educational and sports robotics across the island.

More than 700 registrations have been submitted for the 9th Pancyprian Educational and Athletic Robotics Competition, which will take place on June 27 and 28 at the University of Cyprus Sports Centre. The event is expected to bring together hundreds of teams, participants, and coaches from across the country.

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Robotics Moves From Niche Activity To National Momentum

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Panicos Masouras, secretary of the board of directors of the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) and president of the Robotex Cyprus Organising Committee, said robotics has grown significantly in Cyprus over the past decade.

“This is the largest robotics event in Cyprus, where children, young people and adults have the opportunity to design, program and compete with their robots in dozens of different challenges,” he said.

The competition is organised by the CCS in cooperation with the University of Cyprus, the Youth Board of Cyprus and the IET – Institute of Engineering and Technology, under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.

A Bigger Competition With Wider Reach

This year’s edition will feature teams from 137 organisations and is expected to be the largest Robotex Cyprus event since the pandemic.

Visitors will be able to attend free of charge and explore technology demonstrations, educational activities and robotics competitions. The programme includes line following and Sumo contests, as well as bowling, archery, shot put, rally and drone competitions.

A dedicated girls’ firefighting competition will also be held to encourage greater participation by girls in technology-related fields.

Building Interest In Stem And Future Skills

Visitors will also be able to watch drone football activities, robot-versus-human chess matches and space-related demonstrations.

Winning teams will have the opportunity to represent Cyprus at Robotex International, which will be held in Seoul, South Korea, marking the first time the event takes place outside Estonia. Masouras noted that Cypriot teams regularly return from international competitions with awards and distinctions despite competing against much larger countries.

He added that robotics helps students develop skills increasingly linked to the future labour market, including programming, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, problem-solving and adaptability.

The Next Challenge: Scaling Access And Investment

According to Masouras, the next step is strengthening cooperation between schools, universities, businesses and the state while expanding opportunities for children across all districts to participate in robotics programmes.

He also highlighted the importance of integrating STEM more effectively into school curricula and making greater use of robotics equipment already available in educational institutions.

The Cyprus Computer Society is supporting those efforts through educational programmes, coding initiatives and robotics workshops organised throughout the year.

Funding Remains A Pressure Point

Masouras also criticised the Research and Innovation Foundation’s decision to reduce funding for Cypriot teams participating in international robotics competitions.

He argued that the move could weaken Cyprus’ international presence in educational robotics despite the strong performance of local teams in recent years.

“The aim is not simply to create competition winners, but to cultivate and support a new generation of scientists, engineers and creators who can contribute to Cyprus’ digital transformation,” he said.