Ask any VEX coach what the first season is really about and they'll tell you: it's the moment a 12-year-old's code runs on the field, the robot stops right where it was supposed to, and the whole team loses its mind. VEX is built for exactly that moment, and it scales from elementary school all the way to college.
It also has a lot of acronyms, several platforms and, as of 2026, a new organization running its competitions. This guide sorts it out for students, parents and new coaches. We teach VEX classes in our store, and these are the questions we hear on day one.
The Short Answer
VEX Robotics is a robotics education and competition system with platforms by age. VEX IQ (snap-together plastic, elementary and middle school) and VEX V5 (metal, middle and high school) are the two main competition platforms. Teams build and code a robot to play a new game each season.
- 2026-27 games: VEX IQ Level Up (scoring bean bags in goals) and VEX V5 Override (stacking cups on pins and flipping toggles on a 12x12-foot field).
- Coding: VEXcode supports Blocks, then Python or C++. VEX recommends starting with Blocks and moving to Python.
- 2026 change: VEX ended its partnership with the RECF in May 2026. VEX competitions are now run through the Global Robotics & Science Foundation, with registration at events.vex.com.
1. VEX IQ vs VEX V5: Which Platform Fits Your Student?
VEX has platforms from kindergarten up. For competition, most families choose between IQ and V5.
The VEX family at a glance
| Platform | Typical age | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| VEX 123 / GO | K to early elementary | Intro coding and simple builds |
| VEX IQ | Elementary and middle school | Snap-together plastic parts, smart motors and sensors |
| VEX V5 | Middle and high school | Metal structure, more powerful motors, deeper programming |
| VEX U / VEX AI | High school AI and college | Custom fabrication and fully autonomous play |
Choose VEX IQ if…
…your student is roughly 8 to 13, new to building and coding, or you want a lower-cost, tool-light start. IQ teaches real engineering trade-offs without metal and screws everywhere, and its competition (VIQRC) is built around teamwork between two teams rather than head-to-head play.
Choose VEX V5 if…
…your student is in middle or high school, wants to work with metal structures, gear ratios and 8-32 hardware, and is ready for text-based programming. V5 competition (V5RC) is two alliances of two teams each, with a 15-second autonomous period where code alone drives the robot.
2. Starting or Joining a VEX Team in 2026-27
Competition is where VEX gets exciting, and this season comes with an important change.
The 2026 VEX and RECF change, in plain English
In May 2026, VEX Robotics ended its long partnership with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF). VEX competitions are now run through the newly formed Global Robotics & Science Foundation (GRSF), with events listed at events.vex.com. The RECF continues to run its own independent robotics events. Before you register, confirm which events your school or club is entering and which path leads to the championships you care about.
This season's games
VEX V5 Override (2026-27): two 2-team alliances play on a 12x12-foot field with nine goals, four toggles, four loaders, 56 cups and 63 pins. A match opens with a 15-second autonomous period, followed by 1 minute 45 seconds of driver control. Alliance-colored pins score 5 points, yellow pins score 10 when your alliance controls that quadrant's toggle, a robot parked in the midfield scores 8, and the alliance that wins autonomous earns a 12-point bonus (VEX game page).
VEX IQ Level Up (2026-27): robots collect and score bean bags into goals, with a design trade-off between a stable robot that takes the long route and a compact one that fits through shortcuts. The game was released in April 2026 during the VEX World Championship.
What a new team needs
- An adult coach or mentor (no robotics experience required, just organization).
- A VEX competition kit for your platform, plus the season's game elements for practice.
- A laptop or tablet with VEXcode.
- An engineering notebook. Judges care about your design process, not just your score.
- A practice space and a regular weekly schedule.
- Event registration at events.vex.com.
3. Your First VEXcode Program (and How to Practice Without a Robot)
VEX's own guidance is clear: start with Blocks so students learn concepts without fighting syntax, then move to text.
The learning path VEX recommends
- VEXcode Blocks: drag-and-drop coding for sequences, loops and sensors.
- Switch blocks: a bridge that mixes typed commands into Blocks projects.
- Python: VEX recommends Python over C++ for most text-based learners, citing readability and wider use in schools.
Everything runs in VEXcode, which covers 123, GO, IQ, EXP, V5 and more.
A first autonomous routine
A classic first program drives forward, turns 90 degrees and drives again (the route in the illustration at the top of this guide). In VEXcode Python for a basic drivetrain project, it looks like this:
drivetrain.set_drive_velocity(50, PERCENT)
drivetrain.drive_for(FORWARD, 600, MM)
drivetrain.turn_for(RIGHT, 90, DEGREES)
drivetrain.drive_for(FORWARD, 300, MM)Exact names depend on how the devices are configured in your project. Then have students measure: did it stop at 600mm? If not, why? That question is where real engineering starts, and it leads to sensors and eventually PID control.
Practice with no robot at all
- VEXcode VR (vr.vex.com) puts a virtual VEX robot in practice playgrounds.
- VEX Virtual Skills (vrskills.vex.com) lets students practice game tasks without field resets.
- VEX Computer Science curriculum (cs.vex.com) offers free structured lessons.
A student who has driven a virtual robot through a few autonomous challenges walks into their first build session already thinking like a programmer.
Conclusion
VEX works because it turns abstract ideas, like gear ratios, loops and sensors, into a robot that either scores or doesn't. Pick IQ or V5 by age and experience, start coding in Blocks before moving to Python, and confirm your competition path for the 2026-27 season. Most of all, let students break things and figure out why. That's the whole point.
Want a head start? Ask about our in-store VEX classes on our contact page or visit the shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between VEX IQ and VEX V5?
VEX IQ uses snap-together plastic parts and targets elementary and middle school. VEX V5 uses metal parts, stronger motors and deeper programming, and targets middle and high school.
What programming language does VEX use?
VEXcode supports block-based coding, Python and C++. VEX recommends starting with Blocks and moving to Python for text-based programming.
Who runs VEX competitions in 2026?
After VEX ended its partnership with the RECF in May 2026, VEX competitions are run through the Global Robotics & Science Foundation, with events listed at events.vex.com. The RECF runs its own separate events.
What is the 2026-27 VEX V5 game?
Override: alliances stack cups on pins, flip field toggles and park in the midfield, with a 15-second autonomous period and 1 minute 45 seconds of driver control.
Can I learn VEX without buying a robot?
Yes. VEXcode VR, VEX Virtual Skills and the free VEX computer science curriculum let students learn and practice coding in a browser.
Does Atlanta Hobby offer VEX classes?
Yes. We hold VEX robotics classes in our store. Contact us or visit the shop for upcoming dates.
