Top teams advance to in-person CyberLaunch cybersecurity competition in April 2026 at USF
January 5, 2026—Tampa, Fla—Cyber Florida at USF announces the successful completion of the first-ever CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers, a new statewide entry point to its flagship cybersecurity competition. Following the November 2025 virtual round, 142 of the 363 teams that registered qualified to advance to the CyberLaunch State Championship, which will be held on April 24, 2026, at the University of South Florida (USF) Tampa campus.
CyberLaunch introduces middle and high school students to cybersecurity concepts and career pathways through hands-on, team-based competition. The addition of a virtual qualifier expanded access to schools statewide, allowing students to compete regardless of location while maintaining a high bar for advancement to the in-person championship.
Students faced challenges that tested their knowledge of offensive cybersecurity tools and concepts. The successful completion of a challenge would reward them with a flag, which is a string of text hidden within a challenge. Students exchange flags or challenge information for points in the competition.
“CyberLaunch continues to grow as a powerful way to engage Florida students in cybersecurity at an early stage,” said Dr. Candi Ring, assistant director, K12 Cybersecurity Education. “The virtual qualifier allowed us to reach more schools than ever before, and the 142 teams advancing represent the depth of talent and interest across the state.”
Leading up to the competition, Cyber Florida’s ARCS range team created the capture-the-flag events. During the week of the competition, the ARCS team managed the competition on the event platform, powered by SimSpace, and provided technical assistance to instructors and students.
A New Competition Model for 2025–2026
For the 2025–2026 season, CyberLaunch introduced several new elements designed to increase participation and accessibility:
- Virtual Qualifier Round held in November 2025
- Invitation-only State Championship for high-scoring teams
- In-person finals hosted at USF on April 24, 2026
- Virtual Invitational Finals in April 2026
The CyberLaunch Virtual Qualifiers were open at no cost to Florida middle and high schools (grades 6–12), including public and private institutions. Each participating school designated a faculty or staff advisor to guide student teams through the competition. The inaugural competition attracted 1,265 students to register, representing a nearly 30% increase from previous CyberLaunch competitions.
Building Florida’s Cyber Workforce Pipeline
CyberLaunch is part of Cyber Florida’s broader mission to strengthen Florida’s cybersecurity workforce by engaging students early, supporting educators, and connecting academic learning to real-world cyber challenges. The program aligns with statewide workforce and economic development priorities by exposing students to in-demand skills and career opportunities.
Teams advancing to the April championship will compete in person, applying technical knowledge, problem-solving, and teamwork in a fast-paced, immersive cybersecurity environment.
Teams that did not qualify for the 2026 in-person event will be invited to attend virtual invitational finals, which will also be held in April 2026.
More information about CyberLaunch is available at cyberflorida.org/cyberlaunch.
ABOUT CYBER FLORIDA AT USF
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, commonly referred to as Cyber Florida at USF, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014. Its mission is to position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through comprehensive education, cutting-edge research, and extensive outreach. Cyber Florida leads various initiatives to inspire and educate current and future cybersecurity professionals, advance applied research, and enhance cybersecurity awareness and safety of individuals and organizations.