Young builders from across Asia have put creativity and problem-solving to the test at the LEGOLAND School Challenge 2026, with teams from Malaysia and the Philippines taking the top prizes.
The fifth edition attracted 451 submissions from Malaysia, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China. From those entries, 15 teams advanced to the Grand Finale across three age categories.
This year’s theme, “The Ultimate Theme Park Ride,” gave students a practical challenge: turn an idea into a LEGO creation while working together as a team. Behind the colourful models was a wider focus on skills increasingly relevant to young people across the region.
Young Builders From Malaysia and the Philippines Lead the Field
Malaysian schools claimed two of the three championship titles.
Puteri Mini Makers from SK Cyberjaya in Selangor won the Junior Category for ages seven to nine.
The Mavericks from SK Kubang Kerian 3 in Kelantan took first place in the Primary Category for ages 10 to 12.
In the Secondary Category, covering students aged 13 to 17, AJHS BluBLOC from Ateneo de Manila Junior High School in the Philippines emerged as champion.
Malaysia also had teams among the top five across all three categories, while two teams from Temple Hill International School in the Philippines secured finalist positions.
The results highlight the cross-border nature of the competition, where students from different education systems work around the same theme but bring their own ideas to the build.
A Regional Platform for STEAM Learning
The competition goes beyond constructing elaborate LEGO models.
Organised in partnership with Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, the challenge uses hands-on building to encourage students to explore STEAM concepts covering science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Students also have to communicate, make decisions and solve practical problems as their designs develop.
Cs Lim, Vice President of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort, said students interpreted this year’s theme in different ways while demonstrating creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Photo: Cs Lim, Vice President of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort
He added that LEGO building allows children to test ideas, learn through the building process and approach challenges from different perspectives.
For education systems across Asia, these abilities are becoming an important part of preparing young people for future study and work.
Learning Through Making, Testing and Teamwork
Traditional classroom learning remains important, but practical projects can give students another way to understand how ideas work in the real world.
A building challenge requires more than imagination. Students need to plan their designs, decide what is possible, respond when something does not work and improve the final result.
That process can make concepts in engineering, design and mathematics easier to understand, particularly for younger learners.
It also develops softer skills. Team members have to listen to one another, divide responsibilities and find a way forward when ideas compete.
These experiences can help students become more comfortable with experimentation, where an unsuccessful first attempt is part of learning rather than the end of it.
Connecting Young Talent Across Asia
Regional participation gives the programme another layer of value.
Students from six Asian markets entered the 2026 competition, creating an opportunity for young participants to see different approaches to the same challenge. The event also provides schools with a platform to showcase student work beyond their own classrooms.
For the champions, that regional exposure will continue.
The Primary and Secondary Category winners will receive trips to LEGOLAND Shanghai, while the Junior Category champion will receive a trip to LEGOLAND Malaysia. Category champions will also receive annual passes, LEGO sets, trophies and certificates of achievement.
Meanwhile, the 15 finalist creations will remain on display at MINILAND at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort until December 2026.
Building Skills for Asia’s Next Generation
The LEGOLAND School Challenge 2026 reflects a broader idea in education: young people can develop useful skills when they are given space to create, test and improve their own ideas.
That matters across Asia, where future industries will depend on people who can combine technical knowledge with creativity, communication and problem-solving.
Not every young participant will become an engineer or designer. But learning how to turn an idea into something tangible, work with others and respond to setbacks has value across many future paths.
For this year’s finalists, a LEGO model became much more than a school project. It became a chance to represent their schools, exchange ideas across borders and show what Asia’s next generation can build.
