CyberPatriot 18 (2025-2026) Competition Schedule

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​​​TRAINING EVENTS ​

EVENT

DATES AND TIMES (EASTERN TIME)
(Dates are subject to change.)
DESCRIPTION
Exhibition Round
(Recruiting and Practice)
May 16 - August 25, 2025
Start: May 16 @ 9:00 AM ET 
End: August 25 @ 11:59 PM ET

*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by​ 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date. 
Practice and Recruiting. All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
Training Round 1
(Basic-Level Images)

September 4 - October 22, 2025
Start: September 4 @ 9:00 AM ET 
End: October 22 @ 11:59 PM ET

*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by​ 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date. 
Answer keys are available in the ReadMe file. All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
Sneak Preview
(Optional Test)
TBD
 (1 Day Only)

Start: 9:00 AM ET​
End: 9​:00 PM ET

Practice/Test New Software
One Day - No Alternate Dates 

Scores do not count toward competition.​

All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
Practice Round
(Critical)
October 6 - October 20, 2025
Start: October 6 @ 9:00 AM ET 
End: October 20 @ 11:59 PM ET

*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by​ 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date. 
The software is updated, and teams must test at least one image to ensure no problems accessing the images for the competition. Re-release of training images with answer keys available.

Scores do not count toward competition.

All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
Training Round 2
(Intermediate-Level Images)
Oct 28, 2025 - Jan 20, 2026
Start: October 28 @ 9:00 AM ET 
End: January 20 @ 11:59 PM ET

*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by​ 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date. 
Training images with answer keys are available in the ReadMe file.


Competition Dates and times 

NEW: all​ competition periods will be four hours LONG.

(dates are Tentative - May be subject to change)

Teams may compete during the following times on competition weekends. All times are US Eastern Time.​

  • ​Thursday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM ET
  • Friday, 9:00 AM - 11:59 PM ET
  • Saturday, 8:00 AM - 11:59 PM ET
  • Sunday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET

Please refer to Chapter 4 of the CYBERPATRIOT RULES BOOK for procedures concerning severe weather and emergencies.
(NOTE: Scheduling conflicts are not considered emergencies)

ROUND

Dates

Description

Round 1
(All Open and All Service Division teams pa​rticipate)
October 23 - 26, 2025

5:00 PM ET
 Monday prior to competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches. ​
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams

Tests basics of cybersecurity skills.


Round 2
Open and All Service Divisions ​
(All teams participate - even if they did not compete in Round 1)

Introductory Round
Middle School Division
(This is the 1st competition round for middle school teams)

November 13 - 16, 2025

5:00 PM ET Monday before competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches. 
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams

More difficult for high school teams than Round 1. The results allow teams to be divided into skill-level tiers for the State Round.






The Introductory Round tests the basics of cybersecurity skills.
State Round
(All teams participate. Open and All Service Division teams have a clean slate)
December 11 - 14, 2025

5:00 PM ET Monday prior to competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches. 
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams

Past performance or participation in High School Rounds 1 and 2 do not count toward placement. Teams compete against other teams based on skill level for State Awards and Tier Awards.
Semifinals
(Only teams that qualify can participate)
January 22 - 24, 2026
(3 Days only)

5:00 PM ET Monday before competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches. 
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams
National Finals

March 20 - 24, 2026

National Finalist teams compete for the National Championship in their respective divisions.

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