Bucharest will host ROBOFEST 2026 from October 30 to November 1, a festival dedicated to robotics and advanced technologies, organised by the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest. According to the university, more than 1,500 participants from 34 countries, representing over 260 teams, are expected to attend, alongside more than 1,300 robots.

Now in its fifth edition, the festival will bring together competitions, technology demonstrations and projects developed by young people. The event welcomes both those who build and programme robots and members of the public interested in discovering applications of robotics and artificial intelligence.

The announced figures reflect the organisers’ expectations for this year’s edition. Actual participation numbers will be available after the event.

RoboChallenge: 22 events for competing teams

One of the festival’s central attractions will be RoboChallenge, the international robotics competition now in its 17th edition. The organisers have announced 22 events, including 20 established categories and two new ones, taking place over two days of competition.

The challenges test knowledge of electronics, mechanics and programming, as well as competitors’ ability to find solutions to situations encountered in the arena. Spectators will be able to watch robots operating under competition conditions and see how different teams’ designs perform.

The contests described in information about this year’s edition include sumo robot duels and challenges involving autonomous vehicles navigating mazes. These require hardware and software tailored to specific tasks, from detecting an opponent to identifying a route.

What visitors can discover beyond the competitions

The festival also includes a technology exhibition featuring applications in robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. Visitors will be able to discover projects developed by young people and solutions presented by companies, in a setting that connects technical education with industry.

For school students interested in engineering, the event offers an opportunity to see projects built using concepts taught at school or university. For families, the demonstrations and competitions can provide a starting point for conversations about how robots are built and the tasks they can perform.

ROBOFEST brings together school and university students, researchers and professionals. The international participation announced by the university will bring teams with different backgrounds and technical approaches into the same competition programme.

Where the festival takes place and the announced schedule

ROBOFEST takes place on the Politehnica Bucharest campus, at 313 Splaiul Independenței, Sector 6, with activities in the Rectorate building. On Friday, October 30, the official opening is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to noon in the Aula Magna.

On the same day, from noon to 7:00 p.m., the published schedule lists check-in for RoboChallenge participants at the Rectorate. This time slot is intended for competitors’ registration formalities and should not be confused with a full schedule of events for spectators.

To choose a day and time to visit, members of the public can consult the official ROBOFEST schedule. The organisers note that it may change. The same page includes an option to reserve a ticket; visitors should check admission requirements before travelling, as access conditions may differ between activities.