IIIT Delhi team qualifies for ICPC World Finals 2026 in Dubai

The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) has announced that its competitive programming team, ‘Weak Testcase’, has qualified for the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals 2026. The contest is scheduled to be held in Dubai from November 15 to 20, 2026.

The team comprises three undergraduate students: Abhishek, a BTech student in computer science and engineering (Batch of 2027); Jatin Aggarwal, a BTech student in computer science and artificial intelligence (Batch of 2027); and Piyush Keshan, who is also pursuing a BTech in computer science and artificial intelligence (Batch of 2027).

According to the institute, this will be the fourth time that IIIT-Delhi will be represented at the ICPC World Finals. The achievement further strengthens the institute's standing in competitive programming and algorithmic problem-solving.

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Often referred to as the 'Olympics of Coding', the ICPC attracts participants from around 3,000 universities across 111 countries. Contestants compete to solve complex algorithmic and programming challenges within a limited time, testing their logical reasoning, programming, and teamwork skills.

Road to the ICPC World Finals 2026

Team "Weak Testcase" successfully cleared multiple stages of the competition to secure a place in the World Finals. The team was among the top performers in the online qualifying round, which saw participation from more than 3,000 teams. It subsequently advanced through the regional championships, competing against some of the strongest programming teams in the region, and qualified for the Asia West Continental Championship.

The 2026 edition of the ICPC World Finals will hold special significance as Dubai hosts the 50th edition of the global contest. More than 130 top teams from around the world are expected to participate in the event.

Debajyoti Bera of IIIT-Delhi said the qualification reflects the team's hard work and talent.

"Qualifying for the finals is a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and problem-solving abilities of our students. This achievement reflects the strong culture of competitive programming that we have built at IIIT-Delhi. Our students are encouraged to challenge themselves while collaborating and excelling on global stages," Bera said.

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Sharing his experience, team member Piyush said the journey to the World Finals had been both challenging and rewarding.

“The journey to ICPC World Finals has been an incredible learning experience. Our team members pushed ourselves through consistent practice and teamwork. We are grateful for the support and encouragement provided by IIIT-Delhi for this opportunity,” he said.

IIIT-Delhi said competitive programming remains an important part of its student learning ecosystem. The institute supports students through its competitive programming club, FooBar, and offers dedicated courses in the subject to help students strengthen their problem-solving and programming skills.