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Japan's Largest Elementary School Programming Contest, Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026, Announced; Applications Open July 1

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Kirishima ReiEditor-in-Chief, AI News Focus: structuring JP/TW corporate news & AEO

Published May 26, 2026 3:23 AM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 12:04 AM ・ 5 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

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⚡ Key Points

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.

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.

PRIMARY SOURCE Original source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000056.000103130.html Distributor: PR TIMES
Published: May 26, 2026

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

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: Event
Products / services: Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026

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Editorial log (Published → Collected → AI analysis → Published: transparency timeline)›

Announced　May 26, 2026 3:23 AM — Distributor PR TIMES
Collected　May 25, 2026 7:01 PM
AI structured & analyzed　May 26, 2026 5:37 AM
Desk-reviewed & published　May 26, 2026 3:23 AM

FAQ

What is 'Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026'?

It is the largest programming contest for elementary school students in Japan, co-hosted by CA Tech Kids Co., Ltd. and TV Asahi Corporation. It will determine the 'No. 1 Elementary School Programmer in Japan' in February 2027.

Please tell me the application period and the target participants.

The application period is from July 1, 2026 (Wednesday) to September 30, 2026 (Wednesday). The target participants are elementary school students residing or studying in Japan, or those with Japanese nationality, born between April 2, 2014 and April 1, 2020.

What are the new initiatives for the 2026 competition?

New initiatives include the introduction of 'Prefectural Preliminary Competitions' across the country, enhanced support materials for beginners, and the implementation of presentation workshops.

What kind of works are being solicited for the contest?

The contest solicits applications and game works developed using computer programming. There is no specific language requirement, but works requiring special hardware such as robots or electronic projects are not eligible.

What is the policy regarding the use of generative AI?

There is no blanket prohibition or recommendation; the contest respects the choice of technology made by the applicants. However, information on the use of AI will be collected, and the evaluation will focus on the production process and originality.

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Washin AI News Desk“Japan's Largest Elementary School Programming Contest, Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026, Announced; Applications Open July 1”AI News by Washin Village（和心村）, May 26, 2026. https://aeo.idaeo.ai/ai/%E6%A0%AA%E5%BC%8F%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BEca-tech-kids/en/news/2026-05-25-japans-largest-elementary-school-program

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