Make48 Season 9 Nationals Premiere Set for July 1st

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – May 28, 2026 – Make48, the nation’s premier collaborative innovation and rapid-prototyping competition, today officially announced the upcoming television broadcast of its Season 9 National Championship. The tournament series will premiere nationwide on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 8:00 PM CST on Roku’s This Old House Makers Channel (Channel 458), bringing unscripted STEM excellence and maker culture to millions of households.

Following a highly competitive tournament circuit spanning regional events in Dallas, Texas; Winona, Minnesota; and Kansas City, Missouri, the winning teams advanced to the National Finals. The championship was held at the state-of-the-art Fishers Maker Playground in Fishers, Indiana, where teams were pushed to their creative and technical boundaries to solve a real-world design challenge, called by Corteva.

This season’s broadcast introduces a unique, structured four-episode format that balances competition with human-interest storytelling:

• Episodes 1–3: The Competition – Provides viewers a gripping, inside look at the 48-hour build window. Teams collaborate, adapt, and construct physical product prototypes alongside Make48's elite tool techs and industry mentors to beat the clock.

• Episode 4: Behind the Scenes & Origins – A cinematic, documentary-style finale exploring the history and mission of Make48, the community impact, and the personal backstories of competition.

"The true heartbeat of Make48 is the collaboration that occurs when you bring diverse minds together under a ticking clock," said Tom Gray, CEO and Co-Founder of Make48. "Season 9 showcased extraordinary regional talent. Bringing this four-part story to a premier platform like Roku’s This Old House Makers Channel allows us to celebrate our maker community on a massive national stage."

How to Watch the Action

Catching the premiere is incredibly easy and entirely free:

• Roku Channel Live: Tune in to Channel 458 (This Old House Makers Channel) on July 1st at 8:00 PM CST.

• Samsung TV Plus: Find the live broadcast on Channel #1214.

• Watch Online: Stream directly on your laptop or mobile phone via the Roku Channel web player.

• On-Demand Streaming: Add the free Roku Channel app to your device, search "Make48", and stream the episodes anytime.

Nationals Season 9 at Fishers Maker Playground

Relive the excitement and see highlights from Season 9 at Make48’s YouTube page: https://youtu.be/25Dp7l5iEww?si=y9q4Xy-OkjwGGfFQ 

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About Make48

Make48 is a nationwide invention competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a three-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, and sales sheet, and present their idea to a panel of judges. The teams have access to a makerspace and numerous Tool Techs who can make almost anything, patent attorneys, marketing experts, and more. This format allows everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win, with no prior technical knowledge necessary. 

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Make48 Media Contact: cassandra@make48.com