Ignite the Northwest V5RC Signature Event
Our Sponsors
- Date
- 9-Jan-2026 - 11-Jan-2026 Add to Calendar
- Event Code
- RE-V5RC-25-0147
- Program
- VEX V5 Robotics Competition
- Event Type
- Open Tournament
- Event Format
- In-Person
- Field Control System
- Smart Field Control
- Capacity
- 140
- Spots Open
- 140
- Event Region
- Washington
- Max Registrations per Organization
- 6
- Early-Bird Registration Opens
- 19-Sep-2025 12:00 EDT
- Standard Registration Opens
- 3-Oct-2025 12:00 EDT
- Registration Deadline
- 17-Dec-2025 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- 17-Dec-2025 12:00 EST
- Price
- $600.00
A maximum of 50% of team registrations can be from any one event region
| Region | Maximum % | # Spots Allowed | # Spots Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 50% | 70 | 70 |
- Registration opens at a future date.
General Info
Welcome to Ignite the Northwest 2026!
We’re excited to welcome you to the Gary D. Weikel Events Center, located at the Gateway to the Cascade Mountains in Monroe, Washington. Get ready for an inspiring experience, taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the Cascade Mountain views.
Make sure to check back often for updates! Sign up for email notifications and check out more details about the event here: https://www.igniterobotics.org/signature
If your team requires financial aid to attend this event, or if you are registering multiple teams from an organization, please describe your situation and contact: [email protected]
About the Event
Welcome to Ignite the Northwest 2026! We aim to bring the best teams from all over the US and the World to compete and to prepare students for their own Regional Championships and the World Championship. The event setup is very similar to the World Championships and will provide the teams with a great experience of high-level competition! Elimination rounds will include 16 alliances.
Please note that this event is a 3-Day event. Check the Agenda tab for more information.
Competition Preparation
This event is sure to be a fast-paced and exciting event. All teams should come prepared for the competition. Here are a few steps that every team should take to ensure that they are prepared.
1. Review the rules, the code of conduct, and run through the inspection checklist.
2. Check the VEX Forum and the Q&A for official rule updates and changes.
3. Carefully read all of the information contained in this tournament posting
4. Review the descriptions and criteria for the awards that are being given during the tournament.
5. Prep for your interviews with the judges. Check the awards tab to see what awards will be given during the tournament.
6. Ensure that you have the latest version of firmware.
Food and Drink:
Information coming soon!
Event Merchandise
Customize t-shirts and hoodies just like at the World Championships! Put your team number, personal motto, or alternative designs!
Qualification for the VEX V5RC World Championships*
This event includes three spots for 2025-26 Push Back World Championships.
The awards that qualify for the World Championships are:
1x Excellence Award
2x Tournament Champions
*World Spot Eligibility:
Signature Events will be awarded World Championship qualification spots if they meet all established criteria set forth by the REC Foundation. Failure to fully comply with these criteria may result in the event being ineligible to receive World spots, regardless of prior expectations or historical precedent
Hotel Discounts:
Information coming soon!
Local Attractions:
Monroe, Washington, and its surrounding Snohomish County offer a diverse mix of attractions that are sure to inspire, educate, and entertain. Perfect for students, parents, and teams alike, our carefully curated selection of local attractions seamlessly blends tech wizardry, awe-inspiring nature, and adrenaline-pumping adventure. Let's explore what awaits:
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Gear up for an exhilarating tour of the Boeing Factory! Witness firsthand where aviation marvels are born and take flight. From conception to completion, this is your chance to delve into the inner workings of one of the world's leading aerospace companies. Hurry though, spaces fill up fast!
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For the thrill-seekers among you, the powder-laden slopes of Stevens Pass are only an hour away. Experience the unrivaled snow conditions that make skiing in the Pacific Northwest an unforgettable adventure.
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Calling all animal lovers to the Monroe Reptile Zoo! The Monroe Reptile Zoo is home to the most diverse collection of Reptiles in the Pacific Northwest, with over 85 species from across the world. Here you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures.
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Check out the beautiful nature of Washington by walking on one of the many nearby trails. The Centennial Trail, Whitehorse Trail, and Interurban Trail are fabulous trails that will leave you wanting more.
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For those who enjoy the fine arts, we recommend visiting the Cascadia Arts Museum. Take a dive into the rich tradition of the visual arts and design in the Northwest.
Get ready to unlock the limitless potential of your Washington visit!
Grade Level: High School
Skills Challenge Offered: Yes
Judging Format: Remote Engineering Notebooks
Event Dates & Locations
Date: 9-Jan-2026 - 11-Jan-2026
Venue/Location:14405 179th Avenue Southeast
Monroe, Washington 98272
United States
Contact the Event Partner
You must login to contact this Event PartnerCode of Conduct
The REC Foundation considers the positive, respectful, and ethical conduct of teams to be an essential component of the competition. Participants are expected to behave in a respectful and professional manner, and to operate as student-centered teams with limited adult assistance. This includes all students, teachers, coaches, mentors, parents, and spectators associated with a team.
For more details, please refer to the REC Foundation Code of Conduct and Student-Centered Policy. If you have concerns about compliance with the Code of Conduct, please speak to the Event Partner during the event.
Agenda
The agenda is tentative and subject to change. Check back often to make sure you are updated!
Last Updated: July 2025
FRIDAY, Jan - 9
10:00 am - Doors Open, Check-in
10:30 am - Inspection Starts, Skills Open
Lunch throughout the day
12:15 pm - Driver's Meeting & Opening Ceremony
12:50 pm - Inspection Closes
1:00 pm - Practice Matches Start
2:20 pm - Practice Matches End
2:35 pm - Qualification Match Start
5:00 pm - Qualification Matches End
6:00 pm - Doors Close
SATURDAY, Jan - 10
7:30 am - Doors Open
8:15 am - Qualifications Start, Skills and Judging Open
12:00 pm - Lunch Break
1:30 pm - Qualifications Resume
5:00 pm - Qualifications Finish for the day
6:00 pm - Doors Close
SUNDAY, Jan - 11
7:30 am - Doors Open
8:15 am - Qualifications resume
10:15 am - Qualifications finish and skills close
10:30 am - Alliance selection
11:00 am - Lunch break
12:30 pm - Eliminations begin
2:00 pm - Division finals
2:40 pm - Transition to overall finals
2:50 pm - Overall finals start
3:30 pm - Awards & Closing Ceremony
4:15 pm - Cleanup!
5:00 pm - Doors Close
Volunteer
Interested in joining the team? We are always looking for volunteers to join the crew to help with inspections, run skills, reset fields, or help with match queuing!
A link will be posted closer to the event.
Volunteers will get a T-Shirt, snacks, and lunch for each volunteer day.
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy
In the event of extreme weather and the relavant local and state agencies has deemed activities unsafe, we will cancel the event or change the agenda to account for any lost days. Due to fixed costs for this Signature event, any refunds will be allocated after all event expenses have been taken care of.
Refund and Payment Policies
If the Event Partner cancels the event:
Refunds will only be issued if the event is cancelled due to weather or health-related orders from the relevant local and state agencies for Seattle, WA. Due to fixed costs for this Signature event, any refunds will be allocated after all event expenses have been taken care of.
If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event then chooses to withdraw or not attend:
If the refund order is sent to the Event Partner 10 weeks (Saturday, November 8, 2025) before the event, then the team will be given a full refund minus fees. Otherwise, no refund will be given.
Date: 9-Jan-2026 - 11-Jan-2026
Gary D. Weikel Event Center14405 179th Avenue Southeast
Monroe, Washington 98272
United States
Travel Info
Venue Location
The Venue for the event is the Gary D. Weikel Event Center.
Parking
The venue is conveniently right by the highway for easy access. There are multiple parking lots around the venue to supply ample parking.
Hotels
Information coming soon!
Webcast
We will be livestreaming our event! Check back closer to the event for the links!
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Judging Format
Team interviews will be conducted in-person at the event. Engineering notebooks will be submitted digitally for evaluation via a link found within the "My Account" panel of the team contact on RobotEvents. The submission deadline will be two weeks prior to the event (January 3rd, 2026).