The Council of Europe, INTERPOL, and Morocco's General Directorate of national security (DGSN) and General Directorate for information systems security (DGSSI) will offer the opportunity to approximately 160 law enforcement and cybersecurity specialists from almost 50 countries to join the 2026 edition of the Cyber Games and Digital Security Challenge, to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 19 to 21 May.
This is the first time the event has been hosted on the African continent, recognising the strong commitment of the African countries to the global fight against cybercrime and the growing importance of international cybercrime cooperation across all regions of the world.
A growing global competition series
The 2026 edition is the second instalment of a growing competition series designed to sharpen practitioners' skills in responding to more complex and sophisticated cybercrime. Building on the success of the inaugural edition held in Malaysia in 2025, the event brings together police investigators, digital forensics experts, and cybersecurity professionals in a working competition format focused on investigating complex cyber and ransomware attacks, and tackling criminal networks involved in cryptocurrency laundering.
The 2026 edition gathers the best performers from nearly 400 candidates who enrolled in the online pre-selection process, reflecting the growing global interest in and relevance of the event across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
A test of operational readiness
Over three days, participants will work in teams through realistic investigative scenarios, sharpening their skills through practical problem-solving and team challenges across multiple disciplines, focused on attribution and cooperation. The Cyber Games and Digital Security Challenge is not a competition between countries but an opportunity to practice cooperation, joint work, and mutual learning.
A key focus of the 2026 edition is the practical use of the cooperation tools available under the Convention on cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention, and its second additional protocol, as highlighted by Virgil Spiridon, Head of the Cybercrime programme office of the Council of Europe:
"The Cyber Games and Digital Security Challenge - jointly organised with INTERPOL - respond to a cybercrime landscape in which criminals increasingly exploit encrypted communications, virtual currencies, and crime-as-a-service models to carry out ransomware attacks and hybrid operations against critical infrastructure. Hands-on exercises built around the cooperation tools of the Budapest Convention and its second additional protocol prepare authorities to coordinate across borders and respond in time-critical situations."
Mohamed Dkhissi, Director of the Judicial Police, General Directorate of national security (DGSN) and INTERPOL Vice President for Africa, further emphasised Morocco's commitment as an effective partner in international efforts to combat transnational crime:
"The Kingdom of Morocco has implemented an integrated strategy aimed at strengthening the security of information systems, preserving digital sovereignty, and combating various forms of crime linked to new technologies. This approach is based on strengthening the legal and institutional framework, modernising the technical capabilities of the relevant agencies, and fostering close cooperation with regional and international partners. It is also consistent with the commitments made under the Budapest Convention and its additional protocols, which aim of preventing and suppressing offences committed in cyberspace."
Who has organised the Cyber Games and Digital Security Challenge
The Cybercrime programme office of the Council of Europe, based in Bucharest provides assistance to countries worldwide in strengthening their legislative and operational capacity to address cybercrime and electronic evidence through joint projects with the European Union (GLACY-e CyberSouth+, CyberSEE, CyberSPEX), as well as the Octopus project, funded by voluntary contributions.
It has been organised in cooperation with Morocco, which has been a party to the Budapest Convention since 2018 and a signatory of the second additional protocol, and INTERPOL, which has been dedicated to fostering a network of cybercrime practitioners across member countries through successive editions of the Digital Security Challenge since its first edition in 2016.
Learn more about the Council of Europe's work on preventing crime
Cybercrime programme office of the Council of Europe (C-PROC) and ongoing capacity building projects
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
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