I’ve put together a list of some of the most popular programming contests and coding competitions in this article.You can level up your programming skills for many technical roles in these contests and competitions. These range from popular data science to software development and mathematical modelling to computational chemistry. Most of them are annual programming competitions, but a few are continuous and anyone can participate at any time. These coding competitions are open so participants can use C, C++, Java, Python, C# .NET or any other programming languages in these contests.
These competitive programming contests offer young and talented students and programmers the opportunity to measure their capabilities and compare themselves to other programmers worldwide. So, don’t lose courage due to tons of assignments to complete. You can also delegate them to a paper writing service while pushing your luck at the programming contests. By competing in these programming contests give you a deep satisfaction of being a fluent programmer.
List of Coding Competitions
- 1) The ACM-ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest
- 2) TopCoder
- 3) The ICFP Programming Contest
- 4) BME International 24-hours Programming Contest
- 5) The International Obfuscated C Code Contest
- 6) Internet Problem Solving Contest
- 7) Microsoft Imagine Cup
- 8) Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Codewars
- 9) OpenChallenge
- 10) Other Programming Contests
These days several multinational software and internet companies, such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook and IBM recognize and support these competitive programming contests.
1) The ACM-ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest
The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) traces its roots to a competition held at Texas A&M in 1970. It was hosted by the Alpha Chapter of the UPE Computer Science Honor Society. The contest fosters creativity, teamwork, and innovation in building new software programs, and enables students to test their ability to perform under pressure. Quite simply, it is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious programming contest in the world.
2) TopCoder
TopCoder is fast becoming the major league for programming competitions. TopCoder brings members together once a week to compete online (Single Round Match) and twice a year both online and on location (Tournaments). The Topcoder Open (TCO) is their annual programming and design contest.
The top ranked users on TopCoder are very good competitive programmers and regularly compete in programming competitions. The TopCoder community takes on challenges from world’s leading brands such as IMB, Google and eBay.
3) The ICFP Programming Contest
The International Conference on Functional Programming ICFP Programming Contest holds every year, a few months before the conference. This is a fun and challenging three day open programming competition.
There is no entry fee or need to pre-register. Participants may work from any location. Participants may form teams and the teams may have any number of members.
4) BME International 24-hours Programming Contest
The Challenge 24 is a 24-hour international programming contest. The most important thing in this contest is that the participants can use their own computers. This gives them the possibility to work in their usual environment that fits them the best.
In addition, there are no restrictions on operating systems, development tools or programming platforms. Only the 30 best teams gets an invitation to Budapest, Hungary, where the ‘real’ BME Challenge 24 takes place. Electrical Engineering Students’ Hungarian Association organizes this contest.
5) The International Obfuscated C Code Contest
The International Obfuscated C Code Contest has been running for over 25 years now in 2020. Normally participants enroll and compete in the contest via email or online submission. All you have to do is write the most obscure or obfuscated ANSI C program in fewer than 4096 characters length according to the rules.
All entries must compile with GCC compiler and run under at least one flavor of UNIX. (e.g. Linux or Solaris).
6) Internet Problem Solving Contest
The Internet Problem Solving Contest (IPSC) is an online contest for teams consisting of up to three people. IPSC publishes several problem and coding challenges at the beginning of the competition. Some of them are unusual kinds of problems that will test your out of the box thinking.
For example, find three numbers such that x=y and y=z, but x≠z.
To solve a problem you will have to compute correct output data for the given input data sets. Usually this means that you will write a program that solves the problem, but you may produce the output by hand or in any other way.
7) Microsoft Imagine Cup
Microsoft Imagine Cup has been around for two decades now. This program invites participants to take on real-world problems submitted by IGOs, NGOs and non-profits that you can then take on as part of Imagine Cup project. Then put ideas into action as you create solutions that have potential to change the world.
The Microsoft Imagine Cup 2025, set to take place in May. It aims to bring together innovative student teams from around the world to showcase groundbreaking tech solutions. The competition will showcase advancements in AI, sustainability, and healthcare to inspire the next generation of innovators to tackle real-world challenges with advanced technology.
8) Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Codewars
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Codewars is for high school students and takes place every year since 1999. The event successfully combines several quality ingredients, such as the high-tech environment, a wide range of programming challenges, large amounts of good “programmer” food (pizza and caffeine). Large number of computers, monitors, software, and accessories are also gifted to the participants. Supported programming languages for 2025 event include C, C++, Java and Python 3+.
9) OpenChallenge
Openchallenge is a catalyst for materializing creativity and for channeling open source potential into tackling real world problems. Openchallenge is and tries to be as free as possible from any bonds to any specific interest group.
All the entries submitted to OpenChallenge are published under open source principles and licenses.
10) Other Programming Contests
There are many other programming contests such as CodeChef, HackerRank, LeetCode, Codeforces, Project Euler, American Computer Science League (ACSL) and Facebook Hacker Cup to name a few. These competitions help students and programmers to gain knowledge of algorithms, computer programming, and problem solving techniques and help prepare for technical job interviews.
Further, Codeforces hosts a number of competitive programming competitions. It is a social network dedicated to programming contests and hosting programming contests for the past 14 years. Similarly, Japan based coding contest website AtCoder host three competitions i.e. Beginners, Regular and Grand Contest. Exercism is another coding challenge website that offers 3000+ challenges spanning 60 different programming languages.
Facebook CTF (Capture The Flag) is a cybersecurity competition organized by Facebook being held since 2011. CTF games (Jeopardy, Attack-Defence and mixed) also touch other aspects of information security domain such as cryptography, steganography, binary analysis, reverse engineering, mobile security and others.
Similarly, Kaggle Competitions hosts data science and machine learning competitions. The prize money in these competitions range between USD 500 to USD 150,000.
Kickstart your coding journey with Beginning C++23 – the ultimate guide to mastering the latest in modern C++ programming!
View on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Coding Competitions (Coding Comps) and Why Should You Join Them?
Coding competitions, often called coding comps, are timed programming challenges where participants solve complex algorithmic problems, build real-world projects, or optimize code under pressure. These contests—ranging from global events like Google Code Jam to collegiate hackathons—are designed to test your technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving agility.
What are the Top Coding Comps to Enter in 2025?
Start with Google Code Jam, one of the most prestigious coding comps, where participants solve algorithmic puzzles for a chance to win cash prizes and global recognition. For AI enthusiasts, Kaggle Competitions offer machine learning challenges backed by industry leaders like Google and Microsoft. ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is perfect for students, showcasing teamwork and problem-solving prowess on a global stage. Meanwhile, Codeforces Rounds provide frequent, high-intensity contests for competitive programmers of all levels.
Don’t miss Topcoder Open, a multi-track coding comp featuring algorithm, development, and data science challenges. For those interested in real-world impact, Hack the North and Facebook Hacker Cup offer opportunities to solve cutting-edge problems while networking with top tech recruiters. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned coder, these coding comps are your gateway to skill-building, career advancement, and global recognition.
How to Prepare for Coding Competitions?
Preparing for coding competitions (coding comps) requires a mix of strategic practice, resource utilization, and mental readiness. Start by mastering the fundamentals of data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques—these are the backbone of most coding comp challenges. Platforms like LeetCode, Codeforces, and HackerRank offer curated problem sets and mock contests to simulate real competition environments. Dedicate time to solving past problems from coding comps like Google Code Jam or ICPC to familiarize yourself with common patterns and difficulty levels. Practice under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy, and consider participating in smaller contests to build confidence. Additionally, join online coding communities or forums to exchange tips, discuss solutions, and stay updated on upcoming coding comps.
What Are the Benefits of Participating in Coding Competitions?
Participating in coding competitions offers a wealth of benefits for both personal and professional growth. First, coding comps sharpen your problem-solving and critical thinking skills by exposing you to complex, real-world challenges under time constraints. They also help you master data structures, algorithms, and programming languages, which are essential for technical interviews and software development roles. Beyond skill-building, coding comps provide a platform to showcase your talent to top tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon, who often scout competition leaderboards for potential hires. Winning or even participating in prestigious coding comps can boost your resume, open doors to internships, and even lead to cash prizes or job offers.
