National Robotics Week (RoboWeek) 2026 launched on Saturday, April 4, and wrapped up on April 12 with an incredible week of events, inspiration, and innovation from coast to coast.
MassRobotics Went All In
The team at MassRobotics packed the week with events for students, industry professionals, and everyone in between. Here’s a look at what took place:
STEM Workshops for Boston Students
All week long, MassRobotics hosted STEM workshop sessions for Boston-area public school students — giving the next generation of engineers and innovators a hands-on taste of what robotics is all about. The week was sponsored by Microsoft. We served 123 students from Greater Boston and 6 organizations and schools, exposing them to current robotics used in industry and the potential future careers supporting the field. Including Richard J. Murphy K-8 school, La Vida Scholars, Waltham Boys and Girls Club, Upward Bounds Boston, Excel Academy, and St. Stephen’s Youth Program.
The 2-hour workshops are designed for middle and high school students. The experience includes an engaging conversation about “What is a robot?” Students are introduced to industrial robots and discover how they are used to solve everyday problems. The last piece is that students are challenged to solve robotics-based problems and to program a robot to move.
Automated with Brian Heater Podcast Recordings
Brian Heater’s popular robotics podcast, Automated (produced by A3), recorded a series of episodes live at MassRobotics throughout the week. Most of the sessions were private, but all of the episodes will be released publicly in the coming weeks — so stay tuned!
One exciting recording to watch for: Brian Heater in conversation with Daniela Rus of MIT’s CSAIL — one of the most prominent figures in robotics research today. This session took place Monday, April 6 from 10:00–11:00 AM at MassRobotics and was open to robotics startups and industry professionals.
Women in Robotics Meet Up at Locus Robotics
An evening networking event for women in the robotics industry, this meet up brought together a fantastic group of professionals and sold out ahead of the event. A great sign for the community!
Happy Hour with A3
Midweek, robotics startups and industry professionals gathered at MassRobotics for a happy hour hosted in partnership with A3 – a well-deserved chance to connect and celebrate the week.
MassRobotics Drone Working Group
Members of the MassRobotics Drone Working Group met during RoboWeek to discuss the topic of “Field Testing & Operations – Lessons Learned, Challenges & Stories”. The peer group heard from 3 drone companies who shared their experience as they took their drone technology from controlled, development-friendly environments to the reality of the real world, where unpredictable wind gusts, complex terrain, shifting local regulations, and other factors like local society often rewrite the mission plan and introduce challenges that are not typically seen during development. They moved past standard technical specs to focus on operational lessons that only surface when hardware and software meets the real world.
The goal of The Drone Working Group sessions are to foster a “culture of learning” through shared after-action reports and to equip our working group member drone companies with what’s needed to navigate the challenges of scaling drone operations in the real world.
The Eisenhower School Advanced Manufacturing Visit
The week wrapped up with a visit from students at The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University. Their Advanced Manufacturing Industry Study planned a trip to New England, bringing in a delegation of 14 mid-career students who are rising leaders from the U.S military, allied militaries and the federal civil service. They received an up-close look at advanced manufacturing and robotics in action and heard from two of our startups supporting military operations: ModalAI and Black-I Robotics.
Events Across the Nation
Beyond MassRobotics, 150 events took place in all 50 states – including Lego Clubs, robotics competitions, and industry conferences. Communities everywhere came together to celebrate, compete, collaborate, and explore the world of robotics.
What Is National Robotics Week?
National Robotics Week is an annual celebration dedicated to showcasing the robotics industry and its real-world impact on our lives. From manufacturing floors to research labs to classrooms, robotics is transforming the way we live and work – and RoboWeek 2026 was the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on all of it.
Learn more about National Robotics Week here.
Thank You for Making RoboWeek 2026 a Success!
National Robotics Week is a community effort, and this year’s turnout proved just how passionate and vibrant the robotics community truly is. From students getting their first look at a robot arm to researchers sharing groundbreaking work, RoboWeek 2026 left us energized and excited for what’s ahead.
Questions or want to get involved in future events? Reach out to the RoboWeek team at roboweek@massrobotics.org.
Until next year — keep building, keep innovating, and keep inspiring.