KINGSTON, Jamaica– Innovation, creativity, and resilience are set to take centre stage as the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Jamaica Championship officially launches its 2026 staging, powered by the continued support of the NCB Foundation.

The official launch took place on Tuesday at the AC Marriott Hotel, where organisers, partners, and students gathered in anticipation of what promises to be one of the most impactful championships to date.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NCB Foundation, Perrin Gayle, shared his excitement about the level of creativity already on display.

“This competition aligns well with our core strategy of education and creating opportunities for children to develop critical skills beyond robotics. I am very curious to see how students approach the challenge this year. Based on what I’ve seen today, there are already multiple design approaches, and I’m excited to see what the other teams will bring,” Gayle said.

This year’s competition will see students in Grades 7–12 from high schools across the island designing, building, and programming robots to compete head-to-head in alliance-based challenges; pushing the boundaries of STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning and collaboration.

Gavin Samuels, Affiliate Partner Representative at FTC Jamaica, shares a post-event discussion with Dr. Ricardo Anderson, Tournament Director at FTC Jamaica. Also featured are Jody-Ann Fearon, Marketing Officer at NCB Jamaica; Andrew Pairman, Deputy Chairman of the NCB Foundation; Kadeen Finn-Miller, Administrator at the NCB Foundation; and Perrin Gayle, CEO of the NCB Foundation.

For the past eight years, the NCB Foundation has championed the FTC Jamaica Championship, recognising STEM education as a powerful vehicle for shaping the future. That commitment continues in 2026, with the foundation confirming an investment of $10 million towards the staging of the competition.

The 2026 championship will be staged under the theme of ‘Decoding the Future’, reflecting the national climate of recovery following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Several schools from areas most severely affected in western Jamaica have registered to compete despite significant challenges, embodying the true spirit of perseverance and determination.

“There are teams facing real challenges, particularly in the western regions impacted by the hurricane, including Manning’s High School, Munro College, St Elizabeth Technical High School, and Maggotty High School. We are putting resources in place to support these teams as much as possible, and we look forward to seeing them compete and give their best despite the odds,” said Gavin Samuels, affiliate partner representative and tournament director-national championship.

The two-day FTC Jamaica Championship 2026 is scheduled for this weekend, February 19 and 20, at the Jamaica College Auditorium.