Japan's National Elementary School Programming Championship Returns in 2026!
The National Elementary School Programming Championship Zero-One Grand Slam 2026 is officially set to take place this year, continuing a tradition that has welcomed over 6,000 students in past events. This notable competition, which gamifies programming, will be hosted at Tokyo Big Sight as part of the GOOD LIFE Fair 2026, marking a significant milestone in youth programming.
The Zero-One Grand Slam is an inclusive event open to elementary school students across the nation. The competition comprises preliminary rounds held online, enabling participants to test their coding skills in a supportive environment. Students can attempt the web preliminaries as many times as they wish from May 15 to June 14, 2026, thereby allowing them to hone their abilities.
Following successful preliminary and first rounds, participants will advance to in-person competitions beginning in August. Competitors will battle in two main categories: visual programming and robotics, with top performers advancing to the grand final.
Participation in the competition is completely free.
This year, the grand final will be an integral part of the GOOD LIFE Fair organized by Asahi Shimbun, a major sustainable lifestyle event in Japan. The fair aims to foster an enjoyable and rich living environment, bringing together about 600 companies over three days, with an expected 45,000 visitors. This partnership promises to elevate the competition's profile and reach a larger audience. Attendees can witness elementary students vying for top honors in programming, sharing the excitement with families and individuals interested in programming education.
The Zero-One Grand Slam is not only about competition; it aims to inspire young programmers and provide them with the platform to showcase their skills. As programming education becomes mandatory in schools, events like this become crucial for students to express their knowledge and aspirations. The organizing body, the Junior Programming Promotion Organization, is dedicated to promoting environments where children can deeply engage with programming just like they would in sports.
Participants will experience growth not only in coding skills but also in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities necessary for their futures.
Starting May 15, the web preliminaries provide an opportunity for any elementary school student to sign up and participate for free, no matter their location. It encourages both those currently learning programming and those new to the field to engage and test their skills.
Enrollments are accepted through the official website, where also practice problems for the web preliminaries are regularly uploaded. The organizers eagerly await participants to showcase their programming prowess and share in this historic competition.
The latest updates and detailed information are disseminated via the official Twitter as well as archived broadcasts of previous events on YouTube, showcasing the intensity and excitement of past finals.
Get ready for an exciting showdown in programming that fosters creativity and technical skills among Japan's youth!
Overview of Zero-One Grand Slam 2026
The Zero-One Grand Slam is an inclusive event open to elementary school students across the nation. The competition comprises preliminary rounds held online, enabling participants to test their coding skills in a supportive environment. Students can attempt the web preliminaries as many times as they wish from May 15 to June 14, 2026, thereby allowing them to hone their abilities.
Following successful preliminary and first rounds, participants will advance to in-person competitions beginning in August. Competitors will battle in two main categories: visual programming and robotics, with top performers advancing to the grand final.
Competition Schedule
- - Web Preliminary: May 15 – June 14, 2026 (Online)
- - First Round: July 12, 2026 (Online)
- - Second Round: Date TBD (Planned for late August, held at two real venues in Kanto and Kansai regions)
- - Grand Final: September 27, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight (Event will take place during the GOOD LIFE Fair).
Participation in the competition is completely free.
Collaboration with GOOD LIFE Fair 2026
This year, the grand final will be an integral part of the GOOD LIFE Fair organized by Asahi Shimbun, a major sustainable lifestyle event in Japan. The fair aims to foster an enjoyable and rich living environment, bringing together about 600 companies over three days, with an expected 45,000 visitors. This partnership promises to elevate the competition's profile and reach a larger audience. Attendees can witness elementary students vying for top honors in programming, sharing the excitement with families and individuals interested in programming education.
Nurturing Future Programmers
The Zero-One Grand Slam is not only about competition; it aims to inspire young programmers and provide them with the platform to showcase their skills. As programming education becomes mandatory in schools, events like this become crucial for students to express their knowledge and aspirations. The organizing body, the Junior Programming Promotion Organization, is dedicated to promoting environments where children can deeply engage with programming just like they would in sports.
Participants will experience growth not only in coding skills but also in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities necessary for their futures.
Two Competitive Events for Kids' Coding Skills
- - Visual Programming Event: This competition employs "Scratch", a visual programming language widely utilized by children globally. It is designed to be accessible even to beginners. Contestants will face unique challenges that assess not only coding accuracy but also creativity and logical reasoning.
- - Robotics Competition: A distinctive feature is the use of three different robot models—"Artec Robot," "KOOV," and "SPIKE Prime"—competing under a single set of rules, allowing attendees to interact with diverse robotic programming concepts.
Enrollment Details
Starting May 15, the web preliminaries provide an opportunity for any elementary school student to sign up and participate for free, no matter their location. It encourages both those currently learning programming and those new to the field to engage and test their skills.
- - Eligibility: Open to elementary school students born between April 2, 2014, and April 1, 2020, and those able to participate in person from the second round onwards.
Enrollments are accepted through the official website, where also practice problems for the web preliminaries are regularly uploaded. The organizers eagerly await participants to showcase their programming prowess and share in this historic competition.
The latest updates and detailed information are disseminated via the official Twitter as well as archived broadcasts of previous events on YouTube, showcasing the intensity and excitement of past finals.
Operational Framework
- - Host: Junior Programming Promotion Organization
- - Management: Zero-One Grand Slam Executive Committee (including Shogakukan Inc. and TV Tokyo)
Get ready for an exciting showdown in programming that fosters creativity and technical skills among Japan's youth!
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