ECSC 2026
Europe's premier cybersecurity competition comes to Germany. The best young talents from over 35 countries compete in a 72-hour CTF.
ABOUT ECSC
The European Cyber Security Challenge is the continent's largest cybersecurity competition for young talent, running annually since 2014. ECSC 2026 brings it to Bochum.
The Competition
National teams face off in Jeopardy and Attack-Defense challenges spanning web security, reverse engineering, cryptography, binary exploitation and more. Three days of non-stop hacking.
The Players
The top young talents from national qualifiers across 35+ countries — selected from a pool of over 30,000 participants — compete as national teams across multiple cybersecurity domains.
Behind the Scenes
Organized by NFITS e.V. (Network for IT-Security) in cooperation with ENISA and ECCC. The event features challenges across multiple disciplines over five days in October 2026.
Bochum, Germany
Located in the heart of Germany's Ruhr region, Bochum combines rich industrial heritage with cutting-edge academic research — home to one of Europe's leading cybersecurity research centers.
Team registration, environment setup, opening ceremony
Individual CTF challenges across all categories
Details to be announced.
Real-time team vs. team exploitation & defense
Final standings, awards ceremony, closing event
HALL OF FAME
| IDX | YEAR | LOCATION | WINNER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000 | 2014 | Fürstenfeld | Austria |
| 001 | 2015 | Luzern | Austria |
| 002 | 2016 | Düsseldorf | Spain |
| 003 | 2017 | Malaga | Spain |
| 004 | 2018 | London | Germany |
| 005 | 2019 | Bucharest | Romania |
| 006 | 2021 | Prague | Germany |
| 007 | 2022 | Vienna | Denmark |
| 008 | 2023 | Hamar | Germany |
| 009 | 2024 | Turin | Germany |
| 010 | 2025 | Warsaw | Italy |
| 011 | 2026 | Bochum | PENDING |
SPONSORSHIP TIERS
Partner with Europe's largest youth cybersecurity competition. Choose the tier that fits your brand.
- ▸15 minute presentation or video at the opening and award ceremony
- ▸5+ VIP tickets
- ▸Visibility on badge lanyards, printed materials, presentations and the website, plus both inside and outside the event venue in large size as main sponsor
- ▸Monochrome logo on the certificates for the top 3 teams
- ▸Visible brand placement on the welcome bag
- ▸Selection of goodies for the welcome bag and a velcro patch
- ▸Presentation of awards for 1st place
- ▸Publication of 10 job offers on the website
- ▸Coordinated publication of social media posts
- ▸Separate social media shoutout on every day of the event
- ▸Mention in press releases
- ▸Exclusive meet and greet including a meal with Team Germany
- ▸Signature of a representative of your company on the certificates for the top 3 teams
- ▸Exclusive rights to call yourself "Main sponsor of ECSC 2026"
- ▸5 minute presentation or video at the award ceremony
- ▸3 VIP tickets + 3 standard tickets
- ▸Visibility on printed materials, presentations and the website, plus at the event venue in large size
- ▸Monochrome logo on the certificates for the top 3 teams
- ▸Selection of goodies for the welcome bag
- ▸Opportunity to present award for 2nd or 3rd place
- ▸Publication of 5 job offers on the website
- ▸Coordinated publication of social media posts
- ▸Separate social media shoutout on the first and last day of the of the event
- ▸Mention in press releases
- ▸90 second video at the award ceremony
- ▸2 VIP tickets + 2 standard tickets
- ▸Visibility on printed materials, presentations and the website, plus at the event venue in medium size
- ▸Selection of 5 stickers for the welcome bag
- ▸Publication of 3 job offers on the website
- ▸Separate social media shoutout on the first day of the event
- ▸1 VIP ticket + 1 standard ticket
- ▸Visibility on printed materials, presentations and the website, plus at the event venue in small size
- ▸Selection of 1 sticker for the welcome bag
- ▸Publication of 1 job offer on the website
- ▸Collective social media shoutout with all silver sponsors on the first day of the event
- ▸1 standard admission ticket
- ▸Visibility on presentations and the website as community sponsor
- ▸Social media logo publication with all community sponsors on the first day of the event
ITEM SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsor specific parts of the event directly.
Every item sponsor receives two standard admission tickets a separate social media shoutout, and official recognition as item sponsor, in addition to the benefits listed below.
Mobility Partner
As a mobility partner, you are supporting an easy and sustainable arrival and departure for all participants.
- ▸Logo placement on webpage about arrival
Lunch Sponsor
You are ensuring a good and healthy lunch for the participants during the event.
- ▸Brand visibility at buffet
- ▸Provide your own dishes after prior approval
Prizes
By funding prizes you are directly supporting the recognition of outstanding performance.
- ▸Mention during award ceremony
- ▸Provide your own prizes after prior approval
Dinner
You are funding a collective dinner and providing a suitable atmosphere for interaction and conversations
- ▸Brand visibility at buffet
- ▸Provide your own dishes after prior approval
After Party
The after party sponsor supports a fun and social conclusion of the event.
- ▸Brand visibility at after party
Drinks
You are supporting the drink and beverage supply to the participants during the event.
- ▸Logo placement at bar
- ▸Provide your own drinks after prior approval
T-Shirts
You are providing t-shirts to the participants. Design and production are handled by NFITS.
- ▸Logo placement on t-shirts
NEWS
VIEW ALLOpenECSC 2026 Has Started
OpenECSC 2026 is now live: join until 1 May, solve challenges, and climb the international scoreboard.
Germany to Host the European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC) 2026 in Bochum
Europe's championship for young ethical hacking talent comes to RuhrCongress Bochum, 12–16 October 2026.
THE TEAM
NFITS e.V. — The people organizing ECSC 2026.
Patrick Reich
Project Lead
supported by Anne Born
Daniel Kilimnik
Infrastructure
Tobias Holl
Logistics
supported by Tobias Madl
Benjamin Koltermann
Sponsorships
Lars Adolph
Communications / Press
supported by Karla Pizzi
Kolja Grassmann
Jeopardy
Felix Buchmann
Attack-Defense
Felipe Jacob Custodio Romero
Design
Anne Born
Food / Catering / Drinks
CONTACT
Reach the ECSC 2026 organizing team — for sponsorship inquiries, press requests, or partnership proposals.