Coolest Projects celebrates young digital creators and the things they make with technology. It is run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales, with an international network of partner organisations. Each year there is a worldwide online showcase, plus in-person Coolest Projects events in several countries. In 2026, over 15,000 young people from 40 countries shared projects.
Who can take part:
The online showcase is open to any young creator aged up to 18, from anywhere in the world. An adult must register young people under 13; over 13s can register themselves, or an adult can register for them.
What you can enter:
Projects must use code, computers, or digital technology in some way, and can be about anything. Entrants can make something new or enter a project they have already made. Projects go into one of seven categories:
- Scratch
- Games
- Web
- Mobile apps
- Hardware
- Advanced programming
- Artificial intelligence
Examples include projects made in Scratch, with a micro:bit, with an app emulator, or coded in Python.
What happens after you enter:
The team moderates every project to check that it works. Online showcase projects then appear in the online gallery. Judges review every project and give personalised feedback, using the criteria of Coolness, Complexity, Presentation and Communication, and Design and Usability. According to the Help and FAQs page, projects are shortlisted, and VIP judges pick favourite projects to highlight. Every participant receives a personalised certificate and feedback.
Broadcom Coding with Commitment®:
The Broadcom Coding with Commitment® recognition goes to a Coolest Projects creator aged 11 to 14 who uses code to improve their community. Recent recipients include a Scratch game on water use by Egehan from Türkiye (2026), the Wings of Care website by a team from India (2025), and a drainage alert system by a team from India (2024).
In-person events in 2026:
In-person events are open to young people based in the host country.
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Spain | Saturday, October 24, 2026 (historical) |
| Malaysia | November 21 and 22, 2026 |
| Argentina | Saturday, November 28, 2026 |
| South Africa | Saturday, November 28, 2026 |
| Bangladesh | December 2026 (date to come) |
Dates:
The dedicated 2027 online page, checked November 4, 2026, confirms January 13 opening and the June 23 celebration livestream. The exact submission cutoff is not stated. The FAQ still identifies the 2026 online showcase as closed, despite a generic homepage banner saying entries are open. The 2027 page expressly confirms free entry and teams of up to five. These online milestones are separate from local in-person events.
Official sources:
The current 2027 project checklist asks for an English presentation, a publicly viewable project link and a substantial change if the project has been registered before. A video showing the project and its code is normally required, with exceptions for Scratch, MakeCode Arcade or micro:bit links. The current Take Part page no longer lists Spain; that earlier 2026 listing above is historical.