From the Regional Contest to the International Stage: Highlights of the ICPC Uzbekistan Regional Contest 2026

A total of 79 student teams took part in the ICPC Uzbekistan Regional Contest 2026, held on November 8 at the School 21 campus in Tashkent. The contest was organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, IT Park Uzbekistan, IT Park University (ITPU), and School 21. Following the regional contest, more than 20 teams earned the opportunity to continue competing at the Northern Eurasia stage in Kazakhstan.

The International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is one of the best-known international programming competitions for university students. It brings together young programmers to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in solving complex algorithmic problems, working with data, and developing efficient solutions.

Taking part in ICPC requires more than strong programming and algorithm skills. Teams must also work together, divide tasks, and find optimal solutions under time pressure. These abilities are essential for preparing specialists sought after by the technology industry.

Regional Contest Results

The 2026 regional contest brought together 79 teams that had successfully passed the qualifying round. Over five hours, participants tackled problems of varying difficulty, demonstrating their programming skills, algorithmic thinking, and ability to work as a team.

The top three teams were:

1. First place — Tashkent UIT: Attack on Contest: THE LAST ATTACK
2. Second place — Tashkent Branch of MSU: One Last Plov
3. Third place — New Uzbekistan University: Three Dinosaurs

The awards ceremony was attended by Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, Adviser to the Director General of IT Park Uzbekistan and ICPC Uzbekistan Regional Director, and Bahodir Akhmedov, a representative of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A total of nine top teams received prizes. The main awards were a MacBook Pro for first place, an iPad Pro for second, an iPad Air for third, and Fitbit devices for teams placing fourth through ninth.

Yandex also presented Yandex Drops headphones to coaches in recognition of their contribution to the development of competitive programming, as well as to volunteers who regularly help organize training camps and contests.

Special Awards from Uzum

Uzum recognized additional achievements through special award categories. The company set its own selection criteria and chose the winners:

• Webster University in Tashkent: Falcons — one of the first teams to solve a problem successfully.
• Cyber University: Cyber — the team that made the most submission attempts.
• New Uzbekistan University: Asteroids — the team that made the final successful submission during the last minute of the contest.

The winners of the special awards received Uzum vouchers worth 5 million soums.

The Next Stage: Kazakhstan

Following the regional contest, more than 20 teams earned the opportunity to continue competing at the Northern Eurasia stage, which will take place in Kazakhstan. For the participants, this is the next step toward the international ICPC level and a chance to test their skills against some of the strongest university teams in the region.

Taking part in international competitions of this level helps Uzbek students develop algorithmic thinking, engineering skills, and teamwork. These events also help identify promising young specialists who may contribute to the country’s IT industry in the future.

The ICPC Uzbekistan Regional Contest 2026 was an important milestone for young programmers in Uzbekistan, giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills and continue their journey toward international recognition.