According to Vietnam Television – the initiator and organizer of the annual competition – from May 26th to 31st, 36 outstanding teams from 21 universities, colleges, and vocational high schools nationwide will gather at Studio S1, Vietnam Television ( Hanoi ) to compete and find Vietnam's representative to participate in the Asia-Pacific Robot Competition (ABU Robocon 2026) taking place in August in Hong Kong (China).
This year, the ABU Robocon competition theme was "Martial Arts Warrior - Searching for the Secrets of Kung Fu," transforming the 12m x 12m arena into a real "martial arts training ground." Instead of purely mechanical challenges, teams had to have their robots perform a series of tasks requiring high precision and strategic thinking.
Each team will control two robots, one of which operates fully autonomously. The robots must navigate the "Bamboo Forest Cluster," collect "martial arts manuals," assemble weapons, and enter the central "arena" for a decisive challenge. The highlight of the match is the robots placing the "manuals" on a 2-meter-high checkered grid. The team that creates a vertical or diagonal line first wins outright and is crowned "Kung Fu Master."
The organizers believe this is one of the most strategically challenging competitions in recent years, forcing teams to seamlessly combine mechanics, programming, automation control, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Teams not only need powerful and stable robots, but also flexible strategies to handle situations on the competition field.
Robocon Vietnam 2026 will feature many young teams participating in the major competition for the first time. Alongside established names, these "newcomers" carry the ambition to prove themselves, creating a season that is predicted to be highly competitive.
Teams entered the preliminary round on May 26th and 27th with a point-based demonstration competition to test the stability of their robots. The best teams will advance to the finals, taking place from May 29th to 31st, with direct head-to-head matches from the group stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
More than just a technology competition, Robocon has become a major practical training ground for engineering students over the years, helping them hone their creative thinking, teamwork skills, and ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations. Behind the exciting competition lie months of hard work in the workshops, where teams continuously experiment, debug, and perfect their robots.
Notably, this year's competition also includes a workshop titled "Applications of AI and Automation - From the Playground to Real-World Production," held on May 25th at Studio S1. This forum connects schools, businesses, and students to find solutions to bridge the gap between robotics research in the academic environment and the practical needs of modern industrial production.
To allow viewers to follow the entire journey of the teams, Vietnam Television (VTV) is broadcasting a series of 12 episodes titled "Journey to Robocon 2026" from May 17th to 28th on VTV2. Behind-the-scenes stories, competition pressures, and the passion for technology of these future engineers will be vividly portrayed in each episode.
The finals and awards ceremony will also be broadcast live on VTV2 on the evenings of May 29, 30, and 31. The winning team of Robocon Vietnam 2026 will be supported by VTV to participate in ABU Robocon 2026 in Hong Kong.
Over the years, Robocon has evolved from a simple robot competition into a symbol of creativity and the technological spirit of Vietnamese youth. With the theme "Martial Arts Warrior," this year's competition promises thrilling contests, fueled by the aspiration to reach the pinnacle of technological achievement.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/robocon-viet-nam-2026-cac-chien-binh-vo-thuat-chinh-phuc-thu-thach-972218.html
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam presides over the meeting to approve the draft report on the results of the second inspection by the Politburo of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/26/1779789811432_a2-bnd-4430-9620-jpg.webp)
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