EWPC 2026
Europe Women's Programming Contest 2026
An individual algorithmic programming contest for women and non-binary students across Europe — compete online in the qualifier, then meet on site for the finals in Stockholm.
EWPC is an event operated under the auspices of the ICPC Foundation — the International Collegiate Programming Contest, the oldest and most prestigious programming contest in the world.
What is EWPC?
The Europe Women's Programming Contest (EWPC) is an individual competitive programming contest that operates under the auspices of the ICPC Foundation. Contestants solve algorithmic problems against the clock — reading a problem, designing an efficient solution, and implementing it in code that is judged automatically.
EWPC 2026 is the first edition of the contest. It is open to women and non-binary students at secondary and tertiary schools across Europe, and is designed to welcome newcomers and challenge experienced competitors alike.
The contest has two stages: an online qualifier on July 4, 2026, which anyone eligible can join from anywhere, and the onsite finals in Stockholm, Sweden on August 21–24, 2026, to which the top 20 contestants from the qualifier are invited — with travel and accommodation provided.
EWPC exists to inspire, promote, and celebrate exceptional women in algorithmic problem solving — strengthening the pipeline of women in competitive programming and supporting their growth in software engineering and computer science research, while building a strong, lasting European contest community.
The contest
EWPC follows standard ICPC rules, but is an individual contest: you compete alone, against the clock, on a set of algorithmic problems. Submissions are judged pass/fail, and contestants are ranked by number of problems solved, with ties broken by total time — plus a 20-minute penalty for each incorrect submission on a problem you eventually solve.
Two rounds
A 3-hour online qualifier with roughly eight problems, followed by a single 4-hour final round, also around eight problems, onsite in Stockholm.
Judged on Kattis
All submissions run on the Kattis judging system, with its large set of programming languages — C++, Python, Java, and many more.
Your own work
No external help and no AI assistance: solutions must be entirely your own. Full rules will be published before the qualifier.
Key dates
Online qualifier
A 3-hour individual online round of roughly eight problems, open to all eligible students. The top 20 are invited to the onsite finals.
Onsite finals
Four days of competition and community for the 20 finalists, centered on a single 4-hour final round. Travel and accommodation are provided.
Eligibility
EWPC 2026 is open to contestants who meet all three of the following:
Women & non-binary
The contest is open to all women and non-binary people.
Students
Enrolled at a secondary school (e.g. high school) or tertiary school (e.g. university or college) and ICPC-eligible now or in the future.
Detailed rules and the full eligibility criteria will be published before registration opens.
Finals in Stockholm
The EWPC 2026 finals take place in Stockholm, Sweden, August 21–24, 2026. The top 20 contestants from the online qualifier gather in the Swedish capital for the final contest, together with social events and the chance to meet peers from all over Europe.
Travel and accommodation are provided for all finalists. The venue, in central Stockholm, will be announced here.
Arrival
Arrivals, check-in, and an informal welcome dinner.
Opening day
Opening ceremony and practice contest, then an excursion and group dinner.
Contest & awards
The 4-hour EWPC final, followed by the awards ceremony and closing banquet.
Departure
Check-out and journeys home.
Preliminary program — details may change.
Registration
Registration is open and free of charge. Sign up for the online qualifier on Kattis, the contest platform, using the button below.
FAQ
Do I compete in a team?
No — unlike classic ICPC team contests, EWPC is an individual contest. You compete on your own, in both the qualifier and the final.
Who can compete?
All women and non-binary students enrolled at a secondary school (e.g. high school) or tertiary school (e.g. university or college) in the ICPC Europe region — see the eligibility section and map above.
What does it cost?
Nothing. Registration is free, and finalists' travel to and accommodation in Stockholm are covered by the contest.
Which programming languages can I use?
The contest runs on Kattis, which supports a large number of languages — including C++, Python, Java, and many more.
How does the scoring work?
Standard ICPC rules: each problem is judged pass/fail. Contestants are ranked by number of problems solved; ties are broken by total time, with a 20-minute penalty added for each incorrect submission on a problem that is eventually solved.
Can I use AI tools or get outside help?
No. Solutions must be entirely your own work — no external help and no AI assistance, in the qualifier as well as the final.
How do I reach the finals in Stockholm?
Place in the top 20 of the online qualifier on July 4. All 20 finalists are invited to the onsite finals, expenses paid.
I'm new to competitive programming — is EWPC for me?
Yes! EWPC is designed to welcome newcomers as well as challenge experienced contestants. A good way to prepare is to solve problems on open.kattis.com, the same platform the contest uses.
I need a visa to travel to Sweden — can you help?
Yes. If you qualify for the finals and need a visa, contact us and we will help with invitation letters and documentation.
I just finished secondary education and I haven't started my studies at a university yet. Am I eligible?
Yes, as long as you still satisfy the age requirements for ICPC contests. If you were born in 2002 or later, then you are eligible.
I just graduated / I am graduating in a few days from university. Am I still eligible?
If your post secondary studies started in 2021 or later, then you are eligible. For example, if you started a BSc in 2021 and then your MSc in 2024, graduating in 2026, then you are still eligible. Similarly, if you graduated from your BSc in 2026 then you are also eligible.
I'm a citizen of the ICPC Europe region, but I'm studying abroad, outside the region. Am I eligible?
Yes, citizenship or residency is sufficient.
I'm not a citizen of one of the listed countries, but I live in one of them. Does that satisfy the "In Europe" requirement?
Yes! Established long-term residency (for study or otherwise) is enough.
I'm a PhD student, am I eligible?
It is unlikely, but as long as you satisfy the ICPC eligibility of start of studies and age, then being enrolled in a PhD programme does not stop you. However, you can ask to be involved as a tester, task author, jury member, or by competing unofficially!
I'm not eligible. Can I still register and solve the tasks in the online qualifier?
Yes, but in a parallel unofficial contest through another registration link! We encourage women outside the ICPC Europe region to participate unofficially, without the possibility to be invited to the official finals. The unofficial contest will run in parallel to the official one, and the registration for it is here.
Organizers
Fredrik Niemelä
Contest director
Arnar Bjarni Arnarson
Head judge
Judges: Arnar Bjarni Arnarson (head judge), Atli Fannar Franklín, Dagur Benjamínsson, Giovanna Kobus Conrado, Harry Zhang, Joshua Anderson, Konráð Elí Sigurgeirsson, Matthías Andri Hrafnkelssson, Michael Zündorf, Wendy Yi, Yidi Zang, and Zara Zong.
Organizing committee: Mikael Renström, Maddy Wang Renström, Veronika Soboleva, Joshua Andersson, Lotte Lakeman, Giovanna Kobus Conrado, and Thomas Verwoerd — with more to come.
Our supporters
EWPC is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors.
Jane Street is a research-driven trading firm with a unique focus on technology and collaborative problem solving.
Latest updates
Registration is open
You can now register for the EWPC 2026 online qualifier on Kattis, free of charge — sign up here. The qualifier takes place on July 4.
Format and registration details
EWPC is an individual contest under standard ICPC rules, judged on Kattis: a 3-hour online qualifier on July 4, and a single 4-hour final in Stockholm for the top 20. Registration will be free of charge and will run on the icpc.global system — opening date to be announced shortly.
Announcing EWPC 2026
The first Europe Women's Programming Contest will be held in 2026: online qualifier on July 4, and onsite finals in Stockholm, Sweden on August 21–24. Registration details will be announced here soon — watch this space!
Contact
Questions about the contest, eligibility, or how to get involved? We'd love to hear from you.