The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Online®
About Competing Online
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) Online® is an international virtual challenge of creativity and ingenuity. A STEAM competition for the digital age that challenges individuals or teams to create and film a fantastical Rube Goldberg Machine from everyday objects to solve a common, simple task.
--All machines must complete the task for 2025: FEED A PET
--For individuals and teams of all ages
--Machines are judged by a panel of Rube Goldberg experts and volunteers
--For prizes and more information, check out the official Rulebook below:
How to Enter
- FORM A TEAM: Anyone in the World is welcome to participate either with a group or individually.
- BUILD YOUR MACHINE: Your machine must complete the annually assigned task. The physical size and number of steps are not limited, so use your creativity!
- FILM YOUR MACHINE: Your machine run must be filmed in one continuous take in order to qualify to be judged. The presentations may be edited together/filmed separately from the machine run and should go before the machine when you edit it together.
- SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: There is a submission fee of $10. Your team is not officially entered until payment has been received.
Scoring Criteria
A panel of Rube Goldberg experts will subjectively judge your machines. A winning machine will involve the following elements: a recognizable theme, everyday household objects, sound effects, visual effects, simple machines, and humor. See the rulebook below for more helpful hints.
Copyright Notice and Legal Disclaimer: The 2026 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® rulebook, including all rules, regulations, as well as the official 2026 annual task, is protected under copyright law, with all rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of the rulebook, annual task, or its contents is strictly prohibited and WILL be subject to legal action.
