Robots will face off in the electrifying Miner Mayhem 2026 annual robotics tournament on March 28 in the Macey Center parking lot on the New Mexico Tech campus. The parking lot will be transformed into an arena of robotic prowess as teams of New Mexico’s budding engineers put their creations to the test from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Students, parents, and coaches from across the state will bring their creations and compete in the various arenas, sorted by the type and weight of their bot. Attendees will see a diverse array of robotic challenges, from intricate obstacle courses to head-to-head battles of strength, agility, and survival of the fittest. 

Organized by the university’s Mechanical Engineering program, Miner Mayhen started five years ago with three teams and a dozen 6-12 grade students and now boasts over 150 registered teams and 400 registered tournament competitors from the STEM education community across New Mexico. 

This showcase of student ingenuity will bring a thrilling day of competition and innovation, trial and error, triumph and defeat. 

"Miner Mayhem is more than just a competition," said Dr. Curtis O’Malley, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering and tournament director. "It's a celebration of creativity and problem-solving, and it’s just a lot of fun. This is a chance to cheer on the young inventors who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.” 

The event offers something for the tech enthusiast, for a student curious about STEM, or for someone simply looking for a fun and engaging afternoon. It is made possible thanks to the support of many valuable partners that include: 

• 70-plus NMT students, alumni, and industry volunteers each year 
• Miner Mayhem founding partners NM MESA and Sandia National Labs 
• New partner this year STEMinNM (NM STEM Innovation Network) 

The Miner Mayhem education program is supported by 18 NMT student STEM Mentors throughout the year who support K-12 teacher training and student learning modules, as well as plan the March Miner Mayhem Tournament.