DefCamp Capture the Flag (D-CTF) 2026 Quals

Mark Your Calendars! The DefCamp Capture the Flag (D-CTF) Qualification Phase is Locked and Loaded for 2026!

Get ready to dive into the most electrifying and audacious security CTF competition in Central and Eastern Europe—DefCamp Capture The Flag (D-CTF)!

This is where the sharpest hackers and IT masterminds come together to push their skills to the limit, battling it out with top CTF teams from around the globe. The mission? Secure a spot in the elite top 10 and ultimately conquer the D-CTF competition—or go down fighting!

Since 2011, DefCamp Capture the Flag has been the ultimate battleground for over 10,000 players. This annual, multi-stage event is open to all, but remember one crucial rule—hack or be hacked!

Event Highlights

Brace yourselves for an adrenaline-packed adventure with around 10 beginner-friendly challenges and 15 more difficult tasks that will test even the most seasoned players.

Format: Jeopardy

Play Format: Team-only

Genres: Crypto, Pwning, Reversing, Web, Forensics, Miscellaneous…

Language: English

Access: Open / Free for everyone

Difficulty: Entry Level - Easy - Medium - Hard - Insane

The Challenge Awaits

Tackle a variety of challenges across multiple categories.

Exploit system weaknesses, follow cryptic hints, and uncover hidden secrets.

Each challenge holds a unique flag in the format CTF{sha256 random message}. Capture it, submit it on our platform, and rack up your points.

CTF competitions are a thrilling mix of puzzles and challenges, including reverse-engineering, memory corruption, cryptography, web tech, and more. Solve them, capture the flag, and climb the leaderboard to victory!

Organizers & Partners

This epic event is brought to you by the Cyber Security Research Center from Romania (Asociatia Centrul de Cercetare in Securitate Informatica din Romania) under the banner of DefCamp, Romania's largest and most vibrant INFOSEC community.

Official URL: https://dctf26-quals.cyber-edu.co/

CTFtime URL: https://ctftime.org/event/3392/

Official prize text: Best international teams in the global ranking and top teams from Romania are invited to the grand finale of DefCamp 2026, one of the largest and most anticipated cybersecurity conferences in the region.

The event will take place from November 18th-19th in Bucharest, Romania.

Qualification

- Up to 15 teams will be invited to compete for glory in Bucharest, Romania, at the D-CTF 2026 Final.

- Up to 3 teams from Romania will also secure a spot in the final

- Finalists will receive free tickets to DefCamp 2026.

- Full or partial accommodation reimbursement will be provided.

Main Prizes - International (for the final, onsite):

- 1st place: €1,536

- 2nd place: €1,024

- 3rd place: €512

- Best Team from Romania: €512

Other Prizes (online and onsite):

- Best Write-up (1 prize each for online and onsite): €512, available only to the top 30 teams.