TV Asahi Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Nishi Shin; hereinafter "TV Asahi") and CA Tech Kids Inc. (Reading: CA Tech Kids; Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomohiro Ueno), a company engaged in programming education for children, are jointly hosting the "Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026" (Reading: Tech Kids Grand Prix 2026), a programming contest to determine the No. 1 elementary school programmer in Japan. Applications opened today, July 1 (Wed.). "Tech Kids Grand Prix" is a programming contest for all elementary school students who will lead the next era. First held in 2018, the 2025 competition last year received 11,554 applications from across the country, continuing to grow as Japan's largest programming contest for elementary school students. (*1) The 2026 competition, the 9th annual event, will accept applications from July 1 (Wed.) to September 30 (Wed.). Following area preliminary rounds and 1st to 4th selection stages, the final championship will be held in Tokyo, Shibuya in February 2027. ◎ Full-Scale Support for Participants "Tech Kids Grand Prix" aims to "discover," "nurture," and "enlighten" creators who will lead the next generation. We have conveyed the possibilities of creating with technology by discovering outstanding works and talents of children nationwide and widely disseminating their challenges and achievements. For the 2026 competition, we will fully develop support in learning and production for those new to programming and for participants who wish to improve their entries, in order to provide opportunities for each participant to deepen their learning through the contest and feel their growth during the creation process. As a first step, we will release beginner-friendly work development materials (a total of 4 types, including "Typing Game" and "Rhythm Game," newly added this year). Participants can learn the basics of programming and the process of creating works through these materials. Furthermore, free online