The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) students are organising a free online programming contest called CALICO Fall ’26. The event will take place on November 8, 2026, from 4 pm to 7 pm Pacific Time, which corresponds to November 9, 5:30 am to 8:30 am Indian Standard Time (IST). This contest welcomes participants worldwide, including Indian students, who can compete individually or in teams of up to three members.
- The contest is free and open to all students globally.
- Participants can join alone or in teams of up to three.
- No advanced programming skills are required; basic knowledge is enough.
- Pre-college teams are eligible for official prizes.
- Registration closes on November 1, 2026, Pacific Time.
What is the CALICO Fall ’26 contest?
CALICO Fall ’26 is an online programming competition organised by UC Berkeley students. It aims to provide a platform for students worldwide to practice and showcase their coding skills. The contest includes a range of problems from easy to difficult, making it suitable for beginners and experienced programmers alike.
Who can participate in the contest?
The contest is open to all students globally. Participants can compete alone or form teams of two or three members. However, only pre-college teams—those whose members are not yet enrolled in any university—are eligible for official placement prizes. This encourages younger students to engage and compete.
What programming skills are needed?
Participants do not need advanced programming skills to join CALICO Fall ’26. Basic knowledge of programming concepts such as conditions, loops, and strings is sufficient. The contest is designed to challenge both beginners and more experienced coders by offering a variety of problem difficulties.
How can students prepare for the contest?
Interested students can participate in a week-long practice contest before the main event. This practice session helps participants become familiar with the contest format and improve their problem-solving skills.
How and when can students register?
Students can register online through the official CALICO website before the deadline of November 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time (November 2, 1:29 pm IST). Teams can register initially and add members later. Additionally, participants can join the official CALICO Discord server to find teammates and ask questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a fee to participate in CALICO Fall ’26?
A: No, the contest is free for all participants.
Q: Can university students win prizes?
A: Only pre-college teams are eligible for official placement prizes.
Q: What if I am a beginner in programming?
A: Beginners can participate as the contest includes easy problems and requires only basic programming knowledge.
Q: How do I find teammates?
A: Participants can join the official CALICO Discord server to connect with other students and form teams.
