Arlington, Va. – The Aerospace Industries Association’s (AIA) American Rocketry Challenge (ARC), the world’s largest student rocketry competition, announced today that 1,107 teams have registered for the 2026 competition, breaking last year’s record of 1,001 teams.
“The record‑breaking registration for this year’s American Rocketry Challenge shows just how powerful this program is in giving students real, hands-on experience in STEM and connecting them to a future career in these fields,” said Eric Fanning, AIA President and CEO. “For more than 20 years, the competition has helped students see themselves as future aerospace leaders — and this surge of interest signals not only a bright future for these students and this competition, but for our country and the entire STEM industry.”
“As participation grows, so does the program’s impact,” said Jessica Pedersen, Senior Director of American Rocketry Challenge & STEM Engagement. “Powered by partnerships across industry, government, and academia, ARC equips students with immersive training—shaping the nation’s aerospace and defense workforce for the Artemis generation and beyond.”
This year’s competition will bring together thousands of middle and high school students from across the country. With 1,107 teams representing schools across the nation, ARC continues to expand its reach and strengthen the pipeline of future engineers, scientists, and innovators. The top 100 finalists will be announced in April and will compete for the title of National Champion at the 2026 Finals in May at Great Meadow Foundation in The Plains, Virginia.
For more information about the American Rocketry Challenge, visit rocketrychallenge.org and follow the program on LinkedIn, X/Twitter and Instagram.
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About American Rocketry Challenge
Since 2002, the American Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest student rocket competition, has engaged more than 100,000 middle and high school students in model rocketry. The annual challenge invites students to design, build, and fly rockets to exacting requirements and gain hands-on experience solving engineering problems. Sponsored by Aerospace Industries Association, the National Association of Rocketry, and more than 15 industry, government, and academia partners, the American Rocketry Challenge is the aerospace and defense industry’s flagship program designed to encourage students to pursue study and careers in STEM. The program has launched countless careers in aerospace and defense, and its alumni are helping to engineer the vehicles that will take us back to the moon, and, one day, to Mars. For more information about American Rocketry Challenge, please visit https:/rocketrychallenge.org or connect on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
