The Oregon State University DAM Robotics club is hosting its annual 2026 Winter Wars combat competition at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, January 24 at Kelly Engineering Center. 

This event marks their second combat robotics competition this year. Winter Wars presents combat robots fighting in a double-elimination tournament. To win, one robot must incapacitate or destroy its opponent. 

This competition is the second of three competitions held each year by the DAM Robotics club, and there are some new additions to the arena this year that make this competition extra exciting. 

Primary Officer for the Combat Robotics branch of DAM Robotics, Alejandro Llerenas, mentioned, “This term specifically, [we added] a screen on the side to allow the refs and judges to see the timers or if someone taps out.”

Along with the new screen for the arena, the team has been working on this updated arena since they built it last year. “We started adding new additions to it to make it more automated, like fancy lights, flashing lights, things that are more user friendly for the competitors,” Llerenas added. 

The first combat event ever hosted by DAM Robotics, a club founded in 2007, only featured eight robots. However, last year’s Event Coordinator, Brandon Silvas said, “We had over 35 robots compete last year, so that’s really fantastic that in just a few years to be able to ramp up that many robots.” 

For the Winter Wars competition this year, there are already 24 robots signed up, but the team expects some last-minute sign-ups within the week. 

The competition is free to attend for any students who choose to spectate the battle. More information can be found at the OSU events page.