RoboNation Returns to Sarasota to Host the 2026 RoboBoat Competition and Advance the Future Maritime Workforce 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

RoboNation Returns to Sarasota to Host the 2026 RoboBoat Competition and Advance the Future Maritime Workforce 

SARASOTA, FL – RoboNation will return to Sarasota, Florida, to host the 2026 RoboBoat Competition, taking place February 19–24, 2026, at Nathan Benderson Park. The international competition will bring together top university and high school teams from around the world to design, build, and operate fully autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) in a dynamic, real-world maritime environment. 

RoboBoat challenges student teams to develop autonomous systems capable of completing increasingly complex mission tasks, including navigation, perception, docking, obstacle avoidance, payload delivery, and reporting. Through this hands-on technical challenge, participants gain practical experience in autonomy, systems integration, and maritime engineering, skills directly applicable to today’s evolving workforce needs. 

The 2026 competition will include 37 teams representing 10 countries and 11 U.S. states and territories, making RoboBoat one of the largest international student competitions focused on autonomous surface systems. 

“RoboBoat allows the education from the classroom to become workforce preparation,” said Daryl Davidson, President and CEO at RoboNation. “Students are not only designing autonomous systems, but learning how to test, iterate, and deploy them under real operational constraints. That experience is critical as autonomy becomes central to maritime operations, research, defense, and environmental monitoring.” 

Nathan Benderson Park, an internationally recognized venue for water-based competitions, once again provides an ideal setting for RoboBoat, offering teams and spectators a front-row view of cutting-edge autonomous technology in action. 

Media Day will take place on Friday, February 20, providing journalists with access to teams, student innovators, and event leadership. Members of the press are also welcome to attend at any point throughout the competition week. 

The event is open to the public, and Southwest Florida-area residents, educators, and STEM enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and experience autonomous maritime robotics firsthand. 

For additional information, visit roboboat.org or contact agavin@robonation.org 

About RoboNation: 

RoboNation, a nonprofit organization, is on a mission to provide hands-on robotics education, empowering students to tackle global challenges. With a portfolio of nine educational programs spanning K-12 and university levels, RoboNation cultivates the next generation of engineers, manufacturers, fabricators, programmers, and more. Participants in RoboNation programs represent the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow. Learn more at robonation.org

Media Contact: