2026 NorCal VEX IQ Regional Championships

Come watch fast-paced robot matches, big comebacks, and championship finals — cheering encouraged. Family-friendly, and easy to drop in anytime.

Dates: April 18–19, 2026
Venue: SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC)
Best spectator block: Finals + Awards
Team Registration

Schedule

Key times from doors open through awards. Sunday runs the same schedule (Middle School).

View Schedule

Spectator Primer

How the game works, what to watch for, and how to follow the score during matches.

How It Works

Venue + Parking

Directions, parking, entrances, and accessibility details for an easy arrival.

Get Directions

Volunteer

Help run fields, pits, check-in, and awards. Short shifts available.

Volunteer Info

Saturday Schedule

  • Doors Open (Volunteers)7:00 AM
  • Registration + Inspections Begin
    Pits open • Practice fields open    7:30 AM
  • Inspection Closes
    Opening / Event meeting    9:00 AM
  • Qualification Matches Begin
    Skills fields open    9:30 AM
  • Lunch12:30 PM
  • Qualification Matches Resume1:00 PM
  • Qualifications Finish
    Skills events close    4:15 PM
  • Finals Matches Begin4:30 PM
  • Awards Ceremony5:00 PM

Spectator tip: the best “drop-in” window is Qualifications (9:30 AM–4:15 PM). The biggest energy is Finals + Awards (4:30–5:00+). Sunday runs the same schedule (Middle School).

Event Venue

SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC)
Sacramento, CA

Add your preferred parking/entry notes in “Plan Your Visit” below (or remove that section until confirmed).

Spectator Primer: Mix & Match

Matches are short and continuous, and the score can swing fast. Here’s the “what you’re watching” in 60 seconds.

How a Match Works

  • 2 robots play together as an alliance in a 60-second teamwork match.
  • Robots score with Pins and Beams by building Stacks and placing them into Goals.
  • More points come from connections, multi-color stacks, and matching the goal color.
  • You’ll also see Skills runs (one robot on the field) mixed throughout the day.

Scoring (Quick, High-Level)

  • Connected Pins: 1 point each
  • Connected Beams: 10 points each
  • 2-color Stack bonus: +5
  • 3-color Stack bonus: +15
  • Stack in matching Goal (and/or connected to a Beam): +10
  • Stack on the Standoff Goal: +10
  • Cleared Starting Pin: 2 points
  • Robot touching scoring objects at end: 2 points

What to Watch For (Makes Matches Exciting)

  • Fast cycles — teams grabbing pieces and building stacks quickly.
  • Big swings — a single well-placed stack can create a late comeback.
  • Alliance teamwork — one robot feeds/sets up while the other builds/scores.
  • End-of-match scramble — last-second placements and positioning can decide it.

Plan Your Visit

  • Best time to arrive9:30 AM–4:15 PM
  • Best “big energy” window4:30–5:00+ PM
  • Parking / EntryAdd MOSAC notes

Replace the last line with your confirmed parking/entry guidance (or delete this section until ready).

Volunteer

Help run fields, pits, check-in, judging support, or awards. Short shifts available.

Thanks to our sponsors

Google MathWorks NVIDIA