There are a few Coolest Projects events still to come in the Coolest Projects 2026 cycle, but we are already getting ready to kick off Coolest Projects 2027. Before we do, we’re taking a  look back at some of the incredible things the young tech creators in the global Coolest Projects community have achieved this year, both through the online showcase and at in-person events around the world. 

More than 15,000 young people from 40 countries shared over 4500 creations in the Coolest Projects online showcase. The Coolest Projects team hosted events in the UK, Ireland, India, and two locations across the US, while our partners brought creators together at in-person events in a further 11 countries, with events in another 3 countries still to come. 

With young people sharing their brilliant ideas, ambitious projects, and creativity with the world, 2026 has been a year to remember, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!

But don’t just take our word for it — hear from members of the Coolest Projects community about their experiences too.

From the community

For some, the events are about celebrating a shared passion for making with family and friends.

“I went to Coolest Projects last year with my cousins and thought it was cool, so I wanted to apply this year. I was very late applying so only had 3 days to create a project before the deadline. It was pretty intense! My highlight was being at the event with my cousin, Noah. It was great fun!” – Leo, creator, Coolest Projects Ireland

It’s not just creators who enjoy being part of the community. Mentors take away lasting impressions and a feeling of connection too.

“We usually avoid competitions because coding’s about curiosity, creativity, and sharing knowledge, not racing against each other. But Coolest Projects is completely different: it’s like one big party where everyone’s invited to share what they’ve made. We’re so grateful Project Code Cloud got to be part of it.” – Dannielle, Coolest Projects mentor, Australia

We are also very thankful to our VIP judges, who encourage and give feedback to creators both in the online showcase and at in-person events. Ben, a VIP judge for the online showcase, shared some powerful advice with creators:

“Keep building. Keep experimenting. Keep trying things. […] Always stay curious. Always try to stay learning. […] And the most important thing is it’s OK to fail. Trying new things is difficult and you’re always going to make mistakes, but that’s the best way to learn.” – Ben Powley, Senior Developer, Jagex

Catch up on the livestream to hear advice and feedback from all the VIP judges involved in the online showcase this year and check out their favourite projects.

Some more highlights from 2026

A judge who’s been in their shoes

Akari, a 16-year-old CoderDojo member from Japan who has showcased her own projects at Coolest Projects seven times, joined us as a VIP judge for the online showcase. We were delighted that young creators could hear a genuine peer voice on the panel, alongside industry judges, offering inspiration and encouragement.

This year’s Broadcom Coding with Commitment® recipient

The Broadcom Coding With Commitment® award is a special recognition for a creator who uses coding to support their community through a project that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this year’s online showcase, the award went to Egehan from Türkiye, for their Scratch project Viridia — Back to the World, an educational game that teaches players about water conservation. Egehan shared some thoughts about the challenges they faced while building it:

“Writing the code I used to create the 3D visuals for this game was a bit of a challenge for me. I would often dream about the mathematical calculations required for the code (which, to be honest, was quite interesting).” – Egehan

Partner events around the globe

With 14 partner events due to have taken place around the world by the end of 2026, more creators than ever before have been able to share their projects and connect with a like-minded community locally. Here are a few highlights from the events.

The first event of the year was Coolest Projects Belgium, which took place in March and was organised by CoderDojo Belgium. Ruhee, Global Partnerships Coordinator at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, who attended the event, was particularly impressed by Zeno and Lukas’s Orbitol 6 project, a three-axis robotic arm they’ve been developing for several years, with plans to take it from three axes to six in the future! She also highlighted Jack’s Moppentrappen, a joke-telling project that uses AI to replicate Jack’s voice, allowing it to tell jokes in French as well as English.

Coolest Projects Japan, organised by CoderDojo Japan, was also held in March and welcomed 79 entries, which you can explore here.

Coolest Projects Sudan, organised by Orientations Training Centre, ran for the second time this year. The event was held in Egypt and was designed to provide a safe and accessible space for young Sudanese people affected by displacement. Among the projects on display was an AI-based fruit freshness detector, built by 7-year-olds Khalid and Nour.

“This showcase reflects our belief that Sudan’s future depends on empowering young people to learn, create, and solve problems. We are committed to building the opportunities and platforms they need to shape a better future for Sudan.” – Abbdelmoneim M. Ahmed, CEO, Orientations Training Centre

Looking ahead to 2027

We are excited to share that the Coolest Projects 2027 online showcase will open for entries in January, and the Coolest Projects online showcase celebration will take place on 23 June. 

We’ll also be running in-person Coolest Projects events in Ireland, the UK, India, the US, South Africa, and Kenya next year, with further in-person events due to be run by partners around the world. We will announce the full calendar of in-person events soon. 

You can already save the date for:

Coolest Projects Belgium — 13 March 2027

Coolest Projects USA Minnesota — 17 April 2027

Coolest Projects Ireland — 24 April 2027 at Explorium, Dublin

Coolest Projects UK Bradford — 15 May 2027 at Life Centre, Bradford

Coolest Projects USA Georgia — 15 May 2027

Coolest Projects UK Cardiff — 22 May 2027 at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Coolest Projects global showcase celebration — 23 June 2027, online

If you would like to be first to hear news and dates for the 2027 online showcase and in-person events, sign up to our newsletter or follow the Coolest Projects social channels (find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram).