About This Competition

As part of the AI & Robotics Hackathon and Competitions 2026, the Robot Battle Arena @ Bangkok 2026 brings together high school, vocational, and university students to explore the world of robotics through hands-on design, engineering, and competition.

Working in teams, participants will design and build combat robots weighing no more than 1.5 kg, then put their ideas to the test in head-to-head matches inside the arena.

Combining engineering, mechanical design, creativity, strategy, and teamwork, the competition offers participants a unique opportunity to learn through building, testing, competing, and continuously improving their designs.

Two Competition Categories

Teams will compete in one of two categories, based on their current level of study:

• High School – For students currently enrolled in upper secondary school or equivalent.
• University / Vocational – For students currently enrolled in vocational certificate, higher vocational certificate, or undergraduate programs.

Each category features the 1.5 kg Robot Battle Arena, along with the Gladiator round and special recognition through the Best Look and Best Shot awards.

More Than a Battle

Building a robot is a journey of making choices, testing ideas, solving unexpected challenges, and learning from what happens when a design meets the real world.

Robot Battle Arena invites participants to explore both the technical and creative dimensions of robotics, from hands-on engineering and experimentation to strategy and collaboration.

Competition Highlights

Gladiator

Teams that do not advance to the next stage will have the opportunity to return to the arena through the Gladiator competition, offering another chance to test their robots and showcase what they can do.

Best Look

The Best Look award celebrates robots that stand out through thoughtful, creative, and distinctive design.

Best Shot

The Best Shot award celebrates outstanding performances and the most memorable moments of the competition.

Who Can Participate

Robot Battle Arena is open to:

• High school students
• Vocational students
• University students

All team members must be at least 15 years old as of December 15, 2026 (born on or before December 15, 2011). All teams are required to follow the official competition rules.

Good to Know

• Team size: 3–5 members per team. Members may come from different schools or institutions, but each participant may join only one team.
• Coach / Team Supervisor: Each team must have at least one coach or team supervisor, such as a teacher, parent, or other responsible adult. The coach is not counted as a team member and may support more than one team.
• Robot specs: Maximum weight 1.5 kg and maximum size 50 × 50 × 50 cm (fully extended), electric power up to 24V, wireless control with a fail-safe system, and an accessible master power switch.
• Entry fee: Free of charge
• Rulebook:

 - Thai version

 - English version

• Prizes (per category):

 - Champion – 50,000 THB

 - 1st Runner-up – 30,000 THB

 - 2nd Runner-up (2 teams) – 20,000 THB each

 - Gladiator Winner – 15,000 THB

 - Best Look – 5,000 THB

 - Best Shot – 5,000 THB

Important Dates

• November 6 – Applications open. Registration will close once all spots are filled, with up to 32 teams in each competition category.
• November 21 – Online briefing for selected teams.
• December 16–17 – Competition days, featuring head-to-head robot matches.

Registration

Registration is limited to 32 teams per competition category and will close once all available spots have been filled. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot; selected teams will be confirmed on the official announcement dates.

All team members must be at least 15 years old as of December 15, 2026, and parental or legal guardian consent is required for all team members.

Join the Arena

Robot Battle Arena is a space to build, test, compete, learn, and try again.

Whether your robot wins a match or sends you back to the drawing board, every round offers an opportunity to learn something new about engineering, robotics, and the process of turning an idea into something that moves.

Build a robot. Test your ideas. Meet other makers. See what happens in the arena.

Apply to join Robot Battle Arena @ Bangkok 2026:

AI & Robotics | the Competition 2026 Robot Battle Arena – Fill out form

Inquiries & Contact Information

Local Inquiries (Bangkok): strategicevents@bangkokbank.com
MIT Media Lab–Bangkok Bank Event Organizing Team: hack-at-bkk@media.mit.edu