As excitement builds among high school and college students preparing to compete in this year’s flexographic printing challenges, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation (PCF) has announced the official dates for its 2026 competitions. Taking place in April, these two highly anticipated events continue to serve as premier platforms for students to demonstrate their skills, creativity and innovation while gaining valuable insight into future career opportunities.

Phoenix Challenge 29th Annual High School Skills Competition

The 29th Annual High School Skills Competition will be held April 15-17 on the Harper campus of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. Open to high school and technical school students, the event will bring together teams from across the region to compete in a series of challenges focused on foundational flexographic printing skills.

Designed to promote teamwork, technical knowledge and hands-on learning, the competition offers students a unique opportunity to explore their interests in printing and packaging technologies. Participants gain early exposure to industry-relevant skills, helping lay a strong foundation for both academic pursuits and future careers.

PCF 19th Annual College Competition

College students will take center stage at the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown on April 26 in conjunction with the 2026 FTA Annual Forum and InfoFlex. This event challenges students to build complete business cases that utilize and showcase each team’s technical expertise, business acumen, and creative problem-solving scenarios that directly impact real-world industry demands. The College Competition culminates in Milwaukee, where teams present their semester-long projects covering all phases of real-life, client-based projects. A team of industry professionals provide peer review and scoring of key categories to determine top winners.

Students enrolled in technology- and print-related programs will compete in dynamic, hands-on challenges designed to prepare them for the complexities of today’s workforce. 

Bridging Education and Industry

The Phoenix Challenge Foundation remains committed to evolving its competitions to reflect the changing landscape of technology and manufacturing. Both events emphasize not only academic excellence, but also practical application—reinforcing PCF’s mission to bridge the gap between education and industry needs in support of building tomorrow’s workforce.

Participants can expect immersive experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning. Challenges are crafted to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration—skills that are essential for long-term career success.