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EnglishHow to Find Upcoming CTF Events on CTFtime
Updated
Open ctftime.org and use the Upcoming events section on the homepage to see what's next, or go to the Calendar page for a month-by-month view. Both are free to browse without signing in. The site lists events by start time, and each event links to a detail page with the format, organizers, and registration info. If you want to filter by date range or look further ahead, the Archive and Past events sections cover what has already run.
Where the event listings live
CTFtime's navigation (visible in the site header) includes these relevant entries:
- Upcoming – events that haven't started yet
- Now running – events currently in progress
- Past events – completed events
- Calendar – a date-based view of the schedule
- Archive – historical event data
The homepage surfaces Upcoming events, Now running, Past events, and New writeups as separate blocks, so you can scan the near-term schedule at a glance without navigating away.
Step-by-step: finding an event
- Go to the homepage. The Upcoming events block lists the next competitions in chronological order.
- Scan the list for a date that works for you. Each entry shows the event name and its scheduled time.
- Click the event name to open its detail page. This is where you find the format (Jeopardy, Attack-Defense, etc.), the organizers, and any links to the event's own site or registration.
- Check "Now running" if you want to see what's live right now — useful if you're looking to spectate or join a CTF that has already started.
- Use the Calendar when you want to plan further out. It lays events across a monthly grid so you can spot clusters or gaps.
- Browse Past events or the Archive to see how a recurring event was run previously, which helps you judge whether it's worth entering next time.
What each event page tells you
Once you open an event, the detail page typically covers:
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Time | Start and end (often in UTC) |
| Format | Jeopardy, Attack-Defense, or other |
| Organizers | Who is running it |
| Weight | How much the event counts toward team ratings |
| Links | The event's own site, registration, or rules |
The weight field matters if you care about ratings: CTFtime's team rating is calculated from event results, and each event carries a weight that affects how much a placement moves your rating. Higher-weight events (often larger, more established CTFs) have more impact.
Practical tips
- Time zones: CTFtime displays times in UTC by default. Convert to your local time before committing — a 48-hour event starting Friday 00:00 UTC may begin at an awkward hour where you are.
- Team vs. solo: Most listed events are team competitions. If you don't have a team, the Teams section lets you browse existing teams, and there's a Create new team option.
- Registration is separate: CTFtime lists the event, but signing up usually happens on the organizer's own site. Follow the event's links to register.
- Writeups as a preview: The New writeups block on the homepage shows recent solutions. Reading writeups from a past edition of an event is a good way to gauge difficulty before you enter.
Common snags
- An event shows in "Upcoming" but has no registration link yet. Organizers sometimes publish the CTFtime entry before opening sign-ups. Check back closer to the date.
- You can't find a specific event. Try the Archive or search by year — older or smaller events may not appear on the homepage.
- Times look off. Confirm you're reading UTC, not your local zone. The calendar view can make date boundaries clearer.
Browsing events, the calendar, and past archives requires no account. Signing in is only needed for actions tied to a team profile, such as rating participation or managing team membership.