Cyber Security Challenge Kosovo & Albania 2026 is the newest edition of the regional cybersecurity competition that aims to bring together the most talented and motivated students from Kosovo and Albania in a unique technical and professional experience. Organized by Pretera with the support of FLOSSK, Hack The Box, and TechSpace, the event is designed as a platform that combines education, competition, and talent identification in the field of cybersecurity.
Through a dynamic and challenging format, participants had the opportunity to test their skills in realistic cybersecurity scenarios. The challenge was held in the Capture The Flag (CTF) format, where teams faced problems covering different domains such as web security, network security, reverse engineering, cryptography, and exploitation. Each challenge was built to reflect real-life situations that cybersecurity professionals encounter in practice.
The competition took place in two phases. The first phase, the “Qualifiers,” was held online on January 30, 2026, with around 300 students participating in approximately 100 teams from Kosovo and Albania. After an intensive and highly competitive round, the 15 best-performing teams were selected for the final round. The final took place on February 13, 2026, at TechSpace, hosting around 45 competing students. This phase represented the peak of the competition, bringing together the strongest teams in a dynamic and highly competitive environment.
Alongside the competition, the event also featured a rich program of panel discussions, presentations, and workshops. Two panel discussions were moderated by Silva Bashllari. The first panel addressed cybersecurity in the private and financial sectors, with the participation of Anri Bundo, Uendi Hoxha, and Shkumbin Fida. The second panel focused on cybersecurity in the public sector, including academia and government, with speakers Donald Elmazi, Malvina Niklekaj, and Floreta Faber.
In addition to the discussions, the event was enriched with presentations and workshops delivered by the Pretera team, focusing on practical scenarios, real-world approaches to cybersecurity challenges, and concrete experiences from the industry. This combination of technical competition with educational content and strategic discussions turned Cyber Security Challenge Kosovo & Albania 2026 into an important platform for professional development and for building the regional cybersecurity community.
Cyber Security Challenge Kosovo & Albania 2026 is not just a technical competition. This event represents an initiative that aims to promote a cybersecurity culture in the region, encourage the development of practical skills, and create bridges between students, professionals, and the industry.
For many participants, this challenge serves as an important step toward their careers, offering exposure, networking, and real professional opportunities. At the same time, the event contributes to building a stronger and more aware community around the importance of digital security in an increasingly interconnected world.
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