Coolest Projects 2026 is now open for entries, and since this item goes out on International Day of Education (24 January 2026), it’s a good excuse to turn “we should build something” into an actual plan and deadline. Coolest Projects is the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s free, global technology showcase for young people up to age 18, with an online gallery and a celebration livestream later in the year.
 

A young participant demonstrates a handmade project at a busy showcase event, with a large screen and blurred crowd in the background.
A Public Show-and-Tell Can Be the Difference Between “I’m Still Working on It” and “It Works — Watch This.” Source: Coolest Projects.

Projects can be solo or in teams of up to five, and they don’t have to be “finished” masterpieces — it’s pitched as a supportive showcase rather than a high-pressure competition. Online entries close on 27 May 2026, and the global livestream celebration is scheduled for 24 June 2026.

What Counts as a “project”?

The categories are broad enough to catch almost anything a school or club might already be doing: Scratch, Games, Hardware, Web, Mobile Apps, Advanced Programming, and an AI category.
 

Two young participants in Coolest Projects T-shirts work together at a computer station under stage lighting, with a blurred event crowd behind them.
Debugging Together at Coolest Projects. Source: Coolest Projects.

For beginners, the Foundation’s step-by-step project guides make it easy to build something concrete without needing a huge setup; for more experienced learners, it can be a reason to finish that robotics build, sensor logger, game prototype, or web app that’s been hanging around in “nearly done” limbo.

Use International Day of Education as the Kickoff

If you want a simple activity that fits 24 January: do a one-hour “project pitch” session. Pick a category, define what you can ship by May, and decide what you’ll show in the final gallery entry (photos, short video, diagrams, code screenshots, whatever suits). If you’re mentoring a group, Coolest Projects supports mentor/group workflows so a class or club can be organized under one umbrella.

In-Person Events (Selected Dates)

Coolest Projects also lists in-person events in multiple countries, plus “more to be announced”. The current list includes Belgium (14 March), Japan (29 March), Minnesota, USA (11 April), Ireland (25 April), Atlanta, USA (2 May), and the UK (16 May), with later events listed for Sudan (held in Egypt) (12 August) and Nigeria (29 August). The full list (and any updates) is on the Foundation’s post: Coolest Projects 2026 opens for entries.

More dates coming soon for:

  • Coolest Projects Canada 
  • Coolest Projects India
  • Coolest Projects Indonesia
  • Coolest Projects Malaysia
  • Coolest Projects South Africa
  • Coolest Projects Sri Lanka
 
A student at a MMELI Coolest Projects showcase in South Africa. Source: Eastern Cape Department of Education.

If you want a practical “starter kit” angle for readers, these are easy on-ramps: the Raspberry Pi coverage hub, and a kid-friendly intro to a browser-based coding environment.

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