2026 JOLT Cyber Challenge

JOLT provides an electrifying platform for you to engage with complex cybersecurity puzzles.

The 2026 Cyber Trial: AI, Scale, and Security

In the 2026 JOLT Cyber Challenge, the fast-paced world of a growing tech startup collides with the emerging risks of artificial intelligence.

This year’s scenario continues the story from last year’s competition. The once-scrappy social platform Jitter has been fully acquired and rebranded as J, shifting its focus toward artificial intelligence with the development of a new system known as jAI. As J scales rapidly, legacy systems, rushed decisions, and AI-driven features introduce new and unexpected security vulnerabilities.

Teams of four will navigate this evolving environment over an intensive weekend of hands-on challenges designed to reflect how modern organizations actually fail — and how defenders respond.

Open to high school students, college students, and professionals, JOLT offers a competitive, collaborative space to test and sharpen cybersecurity skills in realistic, high-pressure scenarios.

Embrace the Hacker Challenge

Designed by a seasoned team of cybersecurity Game Makers, JOLT goes far beyond a traditional capture-the-flag event.

Participants will face a range of Jeopardy-style challenges testing skills in areas such as:

• Web and application vulnerabilities
• Reverse engineering
• Cryptography and encoding
• Infrastructure and systems security
• Incident response and adversarial thinking

This year’s AI-focused scenario adds an additional layer of complexity, requiring teams to think critically about automation, trust, and unintended consequences.

JOLT is not just about technical execution — it’s about mindset. Competitors will:

• Strengthen critical thinking approaches for complex technical problems
• Apply tools and techniques used by working cybersecurity professionals
• Build collaboration and communication skills in team-based environments
• Gain hands-on experience with both foundational and emerging cybersecurity concepts

Registration Includes

• Participation in the full JOLT Cybersecurity Challenge
• 6 full meals + snacks + caffeine
• Access to technical mentors and exposure to top regional tech talent
• Opportunities to explore new tools, techniques, and career pathways

*Participants registered by March 24 will receive a JOLT T-shirt.