- Aspiring astronauts, STEM enthusiasts, rocket scientists and engineers will take part in UKROC’s most in-demand competition to date.
- 422 teams from 234 schools and youth clubs will go head-to-head.
- The UK champions will represent the UK at the International Youth Rocketry Final at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.
London (5 March 2026) – Team registrations for the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) 2026 are in, and the numbers are at an all-time high, with more than 1600 students from 422 teams at 234 schools and youth groups set to take part. The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket carrying a precious payload – an egg.
Compared to last year’s figures, registrations are up by more than 40% – the second consecutive record year. Sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies, and Saab, this year’s competition will include nine regional events across the UK throughout March and April, followed by the UK National Final in June.
UK Rocketry on a global scale
The competition will culminate at the International Youth Rocketry Final at the Farnborough International Airshow in July, where the winning UK team will compete against teams from the United States, Japan, and France. Building the teams’ confidence and engineering skills, the competition involves presenting to a panel of industry professionals on their journey from start to finish.
Organised by ADS for the twentieth-year running, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, the competition has been running annually since 2006.
STEM skills shortages continue to pose a significant challenge for the UK economy, with the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors consistently reporting more than 10,000 vacancies across their industries. UKROC acts as an entry point for participants into industry, allowing participants to meet experts and leaders, making connections for their future career.
