Japan's Largest Elementary School Programming Contest, Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026, Announced; Applications Open July 1
CA Tech Kids and TV Asahi have announced the "Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026," a programming contest for elementary school students. The application period runs from July 1 to September 30, 2026. This year's competition will newly establish "Prefectural Qualifiers" to encourage participation from regional areas. Furthermore, the contest will not uniformly ban the use of generative AI, instead adopting a judging policy that emphasizes the creator's process and initiative. The next generation's No. 1 programmer will be decided at the finals in February 2027.
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- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 03:23
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CA Tech Kids, a company developing programming education for children, and TV Asahi Corporation have announced their decision to hold the "Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026," a programming contest for elementary school students.
The "Tech Kids Grand Prix" was first held in 2018. The 2025 competition received 11,554 entries from across the country, making it Japan's largest programming contest for elementary school students. The 9th competition in 2026 will accept applications from Wednesday, July 1, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and will determine the "No. 1 Elementary School Programmer in Japan" at the final presentation scheduled for February 2027.
■ Initiatives for the 2026 Competition
- Further Supporting Participant Growth
The competition aims to be a place for learning and challenge. This year, support materials for beginners will be enhanced and new courses on presentation skills and how to effectively communicate one's work will be offered. The goal is to cultivate not only technical skills but also the ability to "think, communicate, and persevere independently."
- Establishment of Prefectural Qualifiers
Some of the regional contests that have been in partnership since 2020 will be newly positioned as "Prefectural Qualifier Tournaments." Winners from these qualifiers will advance to the area qualifiers as prefectural representatives, aiming to create more opportunities for children from all regions to compete nationally.
■ Judging Policy in the Age of Generative AI
Recognizing the rapid evolution of generative AI, the contest will not impose a blanket ban on its use. To allow children to autonomously select and use technology, the following measures are planned:
- Collecting information on whether applicants used generative AI and which services were used.
- Reviewing and understanding the creative process and unique efforts in the work.
- A partial revision of the judging criteria.
The contest maintains that its core evaluation perspectives since its inception in 2018—"VISION," "PRODUCT," and "PRESENTATION"—remain crucial in the age of generative AI.
■ "Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026" Overview
- Name: Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026
- Description: A programming contest for elementary school students
- Eligibility: Elementary school students who reside or study in Japan, or hold Japanese nationality (Date of Birth: April 2, 2014 - April 1, 2020)
- Submission Category: Applications or games developed using computer programming (Works requiring special hardware like robots or electronics are not eligible)
- Programming Language: No restrictions
- Prize Money: Total of 1 million JPY
The "Tech Kids Grand Prix" was first held in 2018. The 2025 competition received 11,554 entries from across the country, making it Japan's largest programming contest for elementary school students. The 9th competition in 2026 will accept applications from Wednesday, July 1, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and will determine the "No. 1 Elementary School Programmer in Japan" at the final presentation scheduled for February 2027.
■ Initiatives for the 2026 Competition
- Further Supporting Participant Growth
The competition aims to be a place for learning and challenge. This year, support materials for beginners will be enhanced and new courses on presentation skills and how to effectively communicate one's work will be offered. The goal is to cultivate not only technical skills but also the ability to "think, communicate, and persevere independently."
- Establishment of Prefectural Qualifiers
Some of the regional contests that have been in partnership since 2020 will be newly positioned as "Prefectural Qualifier Tournaments." Winners from these qualifiers will advance to the area qualifiers as prefectural representatives, aiming to create more opportunities for children from all regions to compete nationally.
■ Judging Policy in the Age of Generative AI
Recognizing the rapid evolution of generative AI, the contest will not impose a blanket ban on its use. To allow children to autonomously select and use technology, the following measures are planned:
- Collecting information on whether applicants used generative AI and which services were used.
- Reviewing and understanding the creative process and unique efforts in the work.
- A partial revision of the judging criteria.
The contest maintains that its core evaluation perspectives since its inception in 2018—"VISION," "PRODUCT," and "PRESENTATION"—remain crucial in the age of generative AI.
■ "Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026" Overview
- Name: Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026
- Description: A programming contest for elementary school students
- Eligibility: Elementary school students who reside or study in Japan, or hold Japanese nationality (Date of Birth: April 2, 2014 - April 1, 2020)
- Submission Category: Applications or games developed using computer programming (Works requiring special hardware like robots or electronics are not eligible)
- Programming Language: No restrictions
- Prize Money: Total of 1 million JPY
FAQ
「Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026」とは何ですか？
株式会社CA Tech Kidsと株式会社テレビ朝日が主催する、日本最大の小学生向けプログラミングコンテストです。2027年2月に「日本No.1小学生プログラマー」を決定します。
応募期間と対象者を教えてください。
応募期間は2026年7月1日（水）から9月30日（水）までです。対象は日本在住・在学、または日本国籍を持つ小学生（2014年4月2日〜2020年4月1日生まれ）です。
2026年度大会の新しい取り組みは何ですか？
全国各地での「都道府県予選大会」の新設や、初心者向けのサポート教材の強化、プレゼンテーション講座の実施などが予定されています。
コンテストではどのような作品を募集していますか？
コンピュータープログラミングを用いて開発されたアプリケーションやゲーム作品です。特定の言語指定はなく、ロボットや電子工作など特殊なハードウェアを要する作品は対象外です。
生成AIの使用に関する方針はどうなっていますか？
一律の禁止や推奨はせず、応募者が主体的に技術を選択することを尊重します。ただし、AIの利用有無に関する情報を取得し、制作プロセスや独自の工夫を重視して審査が行われます。