Open for Registration Feb 1
The Competition
picoCTF is the largest cybersecurity hacking competition for middle, high school, and college students. Participants 13 years and older of all skill levels are encouraged to compete. Competitors must reverse-engineer, break, hack, decrypt, and think creatively and critically to solve the challenges and capture the digital flags.
Competition prizes have eligibility requirements, but everyone is encouraged to play for fun and learning.
The Important Dates
Sign up for an account
Register for the competition
Competition period
US Middle/High School Winners Announced
Competition Categories
Prize Eligibility
Be at least 13 years old
(if under 18, have consent of parent or legal guardian to participate)
Form a team alone or with up to 4 other eligible US middle/high school students participants in this category
Be enrolled in a US middle or high school
Prizes and awards may have requirements. See full competition rules for details.
Prizes
$3,000 and opportunity to visit to CMU for award ceremony *
$2,000 and opportunity to visit to CMU for award ceremony *
$1,000 and opportunity to visit to CMU for award ceremony *
all middle-school team
$550
all middle-school team
$300
all middle-school team
$150
Scoreboard Eligibility
Be at least 13 years old
(if under 18, have consent of parent or legal guardian to participate)
Form a team alone or with up to 4 other eligible participants in this category
Be enrolled in a US university undergraduate program
Scoreboard Eligibility
Be at least 13 years old
(if under 18, have consent of parent or legal guardian to participate)
Form a team alone or with up to 4 other eligible participants in this category
Reside in the continent of Africa, enrolled in a high school or university
Scoreboard Eligibility
Be at least 13 years old
(if under 18, have consent of parent or legal guardian to participate)
Form a team alone or with up to 4 other eligible participants
Be enrolled in a Japan middle school, high school, or university
Players of all types are welcome to play for fun, learning, and bragging rights on the global scoreboard.
Be at least 13 years old
(if under 18, have consent of parent or legal guardian to participate)
Form a team alone or with up to 4 other participants
picoCTF would like to thank our sponsors for providing the funds for continued development and competition awards.