One of the world’s largest international youth robotics competitions will bring student teams from around the globe to Cape Town — the first time the event has been held in Africa.
Johannesburg, South Africa, 12 September 2026 — South Africa will host the World Robot Olympiad (WRO®) International Final in 2028, bringing WRO’s flagship global robotics competition to the African continent.
WRO participation in South Africa has grown from around 40 teams when the national competition launched in 2010 to approximately 1,800 teams in 2025.
The International Final brings together the top teams qualifying through WRO competitions worldwide. Last year, the International Final in Singapore drew 595 teams from 91 countries.
Cape Town will host the 2028 International Final at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during the second week of December.
“Hosting the International Final means South African students get to compete on the world stage without leaving home. Between now and 2028, we want to include many more of our young people into the wonderful world of robotics and competitions,” said Danie Heymans, National Organiser of WRO South Africa, run under the custodianship of the Resolute Foundation.
“We want to include many more of our young people into the wonderful world of robotics and competitions… Congratulations to the World Robot Olympiad International Finals 2028 in South Africa,” said Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education of South Africa.
South African judges account for around one in four international judges at recent WRO International Finals, giving local educators first-hand experience of international competitions and mentoring that they bring back to schools and competitions at home.
WRO South Africa already enjoys healthy participation across all nine provinces, and by 2028 organisers aim to deepen that reach into schools and communities currently underrepresented in robotics competitions.
“South Africa has become an increasingly important part of the WRO community. Participation has grown tremendously, and South African educators and judges already make a significant contribution internationally. Bringing the International Final to Cape Town is a natural next step — and we hope it will inspire even more young people across South Africa and the wider African continent to discover robotics and STEM, ” said Claus Ditlev Christensen, Secretary General of the World Robot Olympiad Association.
Further details about the WRO International Final 2028, including confirmed competition dates, participation information and the event program, will be announced as planning progresses.
About the World Robot Olympiad Association World Robot Olympiad™ Association (WRO®) is a global non-profit that inspires young people to solve real-world challenges through robotics and teamwork. WRO engaged 175,000+ students across more than 100 countries in 2025 through robotics competitions and learning activities. WRO helps students develop STEM skills, creative problem-solving and teamwork while connecting a global community of young innovators.
Find out more: wro-association.org
About the Resolute Foundation
The Resolute Foundation is the registered non-profit custodian of WRO South Africa, responsible for national competition delivery, teacher and coach training, and the expansion of robotics education into under-resourced schools and communities across South Africa.
Media contact
World Robot Olympiad Association
press@wro-association.org
South Africa media contact:
Huzaifa Khan,
foundation@resolute.education
+27 83 605 1003
