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December 10–13, 2026 · Dubai, UAE

Until the competition starts

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Dubai time (GMT+4)

Global Coding Championship Cybersecurity

Competition day — Saturday, December 12, 2026

Apply as a country How the competition works

The first international competition in Information Security Systems Programming, a discipline within the sport of sports programming. National teams defend their digital infrastructure and attack their opponents’ digital infrastructure in the CTF Attack-Defense format.

  • Dec 10–13 2026, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • 1 day Competition day: Saturday, December 12; CTF Attack-Defense format
  • 20 countries national teams invited by organizers
  • 5 athletes + 1 coach 6 team members in total
  • 6 hours with real-time results on a live scoreboard
  • 2 organizers Ministry of sport of the Russian Federation and the federation of sports programming

National teams defend the digital infrastructure of the future

Global Coding Championship Cybersecurity is a cybersecurity competition that follows the rules of sports programming. It brings together national teams under a single set of rules, with a panel of judges and live scoring. All teams compete in the same environment at the same time, and the standings change every round.

Russia was the first country in the world to recognize sports programming as an official sport, on April 12, 2022. Since then, the national federation has held its first international event in Grozny, presented the discipline at the Games of the Future in Kazan, and formed the national team. Dubai 2026 is the first international competition in the “Information Security Systems Programming” discipline and the federation’s first event outside Russia.

Dubai — a city that designs its future decades ahead and gathers people from all over the world — wasn’t chosen by chance. This is where the digital infrastructure of tomorrow is being protected today.

More about the organizer

All teams on a level playing field

One competition day in the CTF Attack-Defense format.

  1. Equal Starting Conditions

    Each national team receives an identical copy of the infrastructure: services with the same set of vulnerabilities.

  2. Defend Your Services, Attack Theirs

    Each team patches the vulnerabilities in its own services and exploits the same vulnerabilities to capture flags (secret data) from its opponents.

  3. How Scoring Works

    Points are scored every round for working services and captured flags, and deducted for lost flags. The scoreboard updates in real time.

  • This is a Sports Competition

    Regulations, refereeing panel, appeals, unified rules for everyone.

  • Easy to Follow

    One live scoreboard. One goal: defend your infrastructure.

  • Safe

    Everything happens in an isolated competition network on the organizer’s cyber range; no real systems are affected.

The format in detail

Four days in Dubai, one competition day

Teams and delegations participate during all four days — from check-in to the award ceremony.

  1. Day 1 · Thursday

    Arrival

    Hotel check-in for delegations, team registration, workstation checks, captains’ meeting.

  2. Day 2 · Friday

    Cultural program

    Introduction to Dubai for delegations; rules briefing; test connection for teams.

  3. Day 3 · Saturday

    Competition

    Opening ceremony; a six-hour CTF Attack-Defense competition with a live scoreboard; post-game analysis and awards.

  4. Day 4 · Sunday

    Departure

    Departure of delegations; publication of final results and press release.

How to participate

Submit an application from your country
Who can participate
A national team nominated by the country’s national sports programming federation or another authorized organization. 20 countries are invited based on organizers’ list; any country may submit an application.
Team composition
5 athletes and a coach (head of delegation).
What teams need
Own laptops and tools. The organizer provides network, game server and workstations. All competition materials, briefings and communications with judges will be in English.

Organizers

About the organizer

  • Ministry of sport of the Russian Federation

  • federation of sports programming

    Founded in 2021. Present in 89 regions with 65 regional sports federations; organizes over 300 events annually and has more than 100,000 competition participants.

Questions

Who can submit an application?

The national federation or authorized organization of the country. One team per country.

Is there a participation fee?

No, it is free.

What language will be used for the competition?

All materials, briefings and refereeing are in English.

What equipment does the team need to bring?

Own laptops and software. The organizer provides network connection, power supply, workstations and a game server.

How is the winner determined?

By the final standings after six hours of play: points for defense and attacks on opponents’ services multiplied by availability of own services. Results are announced on the day of the competition.

Can we watch the event?

Yes: live scoreboard and streaming on December 12 are open to everyone. The venue and broadcasting platforms will be announced separately.

Do I need a visa?

Russian citizens can enter the UAE visa-free; participants from other countries should check the entry requirements for their country. The organizers will provide invitation letters required for visa applications.

Participation, program and accreditation questions

Write to organizers — we’ll respond about team applications, four-day program and media operations at the finals.

Website
GCC-World.com
Telegram channel
@GlobalCodingChampionship
General inquiries
info@gcc-world.com
For teams
teams@gcc-world.com
For media
media@gcc-world.com