Champions of the Future (COTF) is a kart racing competition organised by the RGMMC Group and sanctioned by FIA Karting (CIK-FIA). Founded in 2020, COTF is one of 10 competitions on the international kart racing calendar in CIK-FIA classes.

Initially a two-round series in OK and OK-Junior (OK-J)—with single-round finals in KZ2 and 60 Mini—the championship has since expanded to all eight CIK-FIA classes across the: Euro Series (OK, OK-J), Shifters (KZ, KZ2, KZ2-M), and Academy Program (OK-N, OKN-J, 60 Mini), the latter supported by F1 Academy. COTF also hosted the one-off Winter Series at Franciacorta in 2022. COTF is set to expand to national series in 2026, hosting a British title with Motorsport UK and an Emirati title.

The Euro Series and Shifters events traditionally take place in the two weeks prior to a World or European Championship round at the same circuit. Notable former champions include Nikita Bedrin (2020, OK), Arvid Lindblad (2020, OK-J), Rafael Câmara (2021, OK), Freddie Slater (2021, OK-J), Alex Powell (2023, OK), and Dries Van Langendonck (2024, OK-J). Luna Fluxá (2024, OK-N) is the only female driver to win a title.

COTF was founded in 2020 by the RGMMC Group—the official promoter of FIA Karting (CIK-FIA) and Italian American Motor Engineering (IAME) events—to promote and develop the CIK-FIA classes: OK, the primary senior direct-drive class; OK-Junior (OK-J), the under-15 direct-drive class; KZ2, the secondary gearbox class; and 60 Mini, the under-12 international class. Its inaugural round at Wackersdorf on 7–10 May was delayed and cancelled amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, as was the Kristianstad round on 25–28 June, leaving Zuera as the debut circuit of the series on 16–19 July. Over 170 drivers entered in preparation for the opening round of the Karting European Championship that month. The second and final round was held on 1 November at Portimão in the OK and OK-J classes, serving as direct preparation for the Karting World Championship one week later. The inaugural champions were Nikita Bedrin (OK), Arvid Lindblad (OK-J), Paolo Ippolito (KZ2), and Dmitry Matveev (60 Mini).

The 2021 season was contested in OK and OK-J across three rounds at Genk, Zuera, and Campillos. The latter round replaced the Franciacorta and Castelletto rounds—which were cancelled due to logistical challenges—and provided support for the upcoming World Championship. Rafael Câmara and reigning World Champion Freddie Slater claimed the championships in OK and OK-J, respectively. Prior to the 2022 season, the one-off Champions of the Future Winter Series was held at Franciacorta in: OK, won by Tomass Štolcermanis; OK-J, won by Maciej Gładysz; and KZ2, won by Simo Puhakka. The regular season was re-branded as the Champions of the Future Euro Series—held over four rounds timetabled by factory-backed teams at Portimão, Zuera, Kristianstad, and Franciacorta—and won by British drivers Joe Turney (OK) and Nathan Tye (OK-J).

In 2023, COTF founded the Champions of the Future Academy Program (COTFA) in collaboration with F1 Academy, a single-round event at Al Forsan—the series' first expansion beyond continental Europe—in the recently established low-cost OK-National (OK-N) and OKN-Junior (OKN-J) classes, as well as 60 Mini. F1 Academy sponsored the entries of three female drivers in each class, which Fred Smith of Road & Track opined "could completely alter the access women have to Formula One" within a decade. Austin Gale (OK-N), James Anagnostiadis (OKN-J), and Dan Allemann (60 Mini) were the inaugural winners. The five-round Euro Series was held at Valencia, Třinec, Rødby, Cremona, and Franciacorta—each preceding rounds of the European and World Championships and won by Alex Powell in OK and Lewis Wherrell in OK-J. The Třinec round marked the first appearance of CIK-FIA competition in the Czech Republic since the 1990s. TKART described the series that year as "a must" for the leading international drivers and teams.

With the creation of Champions of the Future Shifters in 2024, COTF expanded into all eight CIK-FIA classes: OK, OK-J, KZ, KZ2, KZ2-Masters (KZ2-M), OK-N, OKN-J, and 60 Mini. The one-round championship at Portimão was won by 2020 World Champion Jérémy Iglesias in KZ, Daniel Vasile in KZ2, and Anthony Abbasse in KZ2-M. The Euro Series was again held over five rounds at Valencia, Val d'Argenton, Slovakia, Kristianstad, and PF International, being won for the second time by Turney in OK, and Dries Van Langendonck in OK-J. The COTFA was expanded to six rounds—Cremona, Valencia, Franciacorta, Dubai, Al Ain, and Al Forsain—and was won by Luna Fluxá (OK-N), defending champion Anagnostiadis (OKN-J), and Priam Bruno (60 Mini). Fluxá became the fifth woman in history to win a major senior international karting title, and the first in a global championship since Susanna Raganelli in 1966. Vroomkart described the COTFA that year as an "innovative model based on inclusion, cost efficiency, and equal competition opportunities", noting its use of driver coaches from FIA Formula 2 and F1 Academy, including Isack Hadjar. It was used to scout driver talent by the Mercedes Junior Team and the Sauber Academy.

The Shifters series expanded to two rounds in 2025 at Valencia and Franciacorta, won by the to-be World Champion in each category: Senna van Walstijn (KZ), Maksim Orlov (KZ2), and Angelo Lombardo (KZ2-M); the former event was marred by controversy as 21 drivers, including six World Champions, boycotted the KZ final in a dispute with the CIK-FIA over its mandating Dunlop tyres. Speedcafe stated that RGMMC "[had] become the unwilling pawn in the middle of the game between the drivers and the FIA" and was unaware of the issue prior—19 of the 23 finalists withdrew or retired mid-race. The CIK-FIA subsequently dropped Dunlop as a tyre supplier. The five-round Euro Series was claimed by two British drivers: reigning junior World Champion Kenzo Craigie (OK) and Noah Baglin (OK-J), the latter overturning a 31-point deficit to William Calleja. Half of the OK-N entrants in COTFA were female.