Algorithm and Code
Training School 2026.2

Bremen, Germany

July 10 – 20, 2026

What is ACTS?

ACTS is an intensive, 11-day coding camp, featuring teaching from top-tier experts.

Designed for high-school students aged 16–19 with a strong national or international competition results, ACTS offers a chance to train intensively and take your skills to the next level.

The program is structured around two distinct tracks, Competitive Programming and Software Engineering, allowing coders to specialise their growth:

Software Engineering

For students who love building products and winning hackathons. Learn from industry engineering experts, develop a team project from scratch, and present your result at the end of the camp.

Competitive Programming

For students who love algorithms and contests. Master key and advanced topics, train for olympiads all the way up to IOI level, go beyond the IOI syllabus with unique sessions from world-renowned experts, and finish with a team contest.

Key details

Location

Constructor University, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen

Dates

July 10–20, 2026

Language

English

Tracks

  • Competitive Programming (~80 spots)
  • Software Engineering (~20 spots)

What's covered

Accommodation, meals, academic programme, excursion

Participant’s costs

Camp fee: €100

Travel, visa, insurance and personal expenses are not included

Terms&Conditions

Why join?

Boost your performance and reach the next level in programming competitions.

Learn from world-class experts and masters in their fields.

Train and make friends with top-performing students from around the globe.

Experience the beauty and culture of Germany firsthand.

Camp program

Who can join?

You!

High school students aged 16–19* who:

*The organiser will collect your documents in order to check your age.

Please note that country restrictions may apply. Check out the eligibility criteria here.

Are motivated to learn intensively, collaborate with other top students, and take on challenging problems or build ambitious projects.

Have already moved beyond the basics of programming and are ready to strengthen advanced skills.

Have demonstrated strong results in national or international competitions.

8 steps to get to the camp

Selection is based on the results of the entrance contest and your background. Strong, detailed descriptions of achievements and a well-prepared project portfolio plays a major role in the final decision.

1. Choose track

You may choose the track that interests you most, or register for both. Please note that an invitation will be extended for only one track. In case you will qualify for both tracks you will have to choose one later.

2. Prepare your portfolio

Carefully prepare a list of your previous relevant achievements. This information will be assessed during the selection process.

3. Register

Selection is based on the results of the entrance contest and your background.
List your achievements carefully.

Don’t forget to use your active Codeforces profile – it will be used to add you to the contest.

By April 25, 2026

4. Entrance contest

Pass the entrance contest on the Codeforces platform (April 19, 2026).
Please note that the contest will be held with proctoring, requiring you to share your screen and webcam. The use of AI tools or any external assistance is strictly prohibited during the contest.

Read more

5. Receive the decision

Based on your performance during the entrance contest together with your achievements you will receive a decision from organisers: an invitation, a place in the wait-list or rejection. In case you successfully qualify for both tracks you will have to choose one at this stage.

By May 7, 2026

6. Confirm your participation

In order to confirm your spot you will be asked to provide your personal documents and pay camp’s fee.

7. Arrange your travel

After confirming your spot, please take care of travel arrangements and visa (if needed). Meals and accommodation will be covered.
Note that we do not provide visa assistance, but will be glad to issue an official invitation. Please plan your appointment to the authorities in advance, no later than 1 month before the camp starts.

8. Meet your peers and organisers

See you at ACTS 2026.2 in Bremen!

How your typical day will look like

Our schedule is designed for maximum learning and enjoyment. The camp schedule is as follows (but is subject to change as necessary):

  • July 10: Arrival day
  • July 11 – 14: Study days
  • July 15: Day off
  • July 16 – 19: Study days
  • July 20: Departure day

Social activities

Evenings are for non-academic events, including quizzes, sports games, treasure hunts, origami workshops, networking with students from around the world, and enjoying time together in Germany.

Extra lectures

In the second half of the day, participants will explore topics beyond the main tracks, from bioinformatics and SAT solvers to compilers and AI agents, plus practical sessions preparing you for life after school graduation.

Classes

Mandatory classes take place in the first half of the day. In the CP track, students usually choose between level-based lectures and training contests (for example: Flows, Advanced Flows, Gomory–Hu Tree, IOI-style contest). In the SE track, mornings combine expert-led sessions with continuous team work on a real project, with clear feature ownership and regular feedback.

Meet our experts

Pavel Mavrin

ICPC World Champion 2004, IOI Silver Medalist 2002 and instructor with JetBrains Academy.

Niyaz Nigmatullin

ICPC World Champion 2012 and 2013, coach of the Neapolis University Pafos and Constructor University ICPC teams, and Researcher at JetBrains.

Mikhail Pyaderkin

ICPC Gold Medalist 2014 & 2015, IOI Gold Medalist 2010, Staff Software Engineer.

Livia Magureanu

ICPC Silver Medal 2020, Project Coordinator at JetBrains.

Camp program

Schedule
How your typical day will look like:

Our schedule is designed for maximum learning and enjoyment. The camp schedule is as follows (but is subject to change as necessary):

  • July 10: Arrival day
  • July 11 – 14: Study day
  • July 15: Day off
  • July 16 – 19: Study day
  • July 20: Departure day
Costs

The camp fee of 100 EUR, which is non-refundable, signifies your commitment to attending the camp.

Organisers will cover:

  • The academic program
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Transportation during the program

Please note that travel/visa costs, health insurance, and spending money are not included. Payment methods will be communicated via email to invited participants.

Activities

Every day at the camp is packed with engaging activities, including:

  • Exciting contests.
  • Daily task analysis with world-renowned experts.
  • Lectures and workshops led by experts in competitive programming.
  • Social events with the opportunity to network with top students from around the globe.
Timeline

• Registration: before 11:59 PM UTC on April 25, 2026.

• Entrance contest 08:00 - 11:00 AM UTC on April 26 2026.

• Decision from ACTS Team: by May 7, 2026.

• Confirmation: by May 15, 2026.

Proctoring

The Entrance Contest will be conducted this year with proctoring. This requires candidates to record their full screen and webcam using OBS for the duration of the contest.

Please note the following:

  • Setup Test: Detailed instructions will be emailed before the contest, and the setup must be tested in advance.
  • Strict Policy: Any use of external help, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification.
Proctoring Guide

This camp will happen thanks to:

Constructor University

Constructor University is a private English-speaking campus university in Bremen, Germany. It adheres to the highest standards in interdisciplinary research and teaching, aiming to strengthen people and markets with innovative solutions and advanced training programs.

Neapolis University Pafos

Neapolis University Pafos (NUP) is one of the leading private universities in Cyprus. Established in 2010, NUP is a vibrant academic institution that strongly emphasizes high-quality higher education and cutting-edge applied knowledge. NUP is dedicated to offering excellent educational services to its academic community, as well as the broader national and international communities.

JetBrains Foundation

This event is supported by JetBrains Foundation, part of the JetBrains group, among others dedicated to empowering communities and advancing tech education worldwide.

Have any questions?

Get in touch with us via acts.programming.camp@gmail.com – we’re always happy to help!

Participants' Impressions

Hear from the participants of our previous camps

  1. Eliška Macáková
    International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) Gold medal, International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Silver medal

    "If you want to get gold at IOI, meet a lot of cool people or just win a water gun and compete in rolling toilet paper as fast as possible, the ACTS camp is the right place for you. For me, it might've been even more fun than some of the international olympiads I've been to, because you have the same friendly-competitve environment, but it's less stressful, longer, and has even more activities occupying every part of the day. I've gained lots of new memories and knowledge, and I definitely recommend the camp to everyone else."

    Slovakia
    ACTS 2024
    Rares Felix Tudose
    International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) Gold medal

    “I loved the atmosphere and the classes this year – seeing how informatics could be applied to areas such as biology and economics was very cool. The organizers went out of their way to make sure there was always something fun to do, from a bot-writing tournament to IOI contests and advanced (but super interesting) lectures on topics like link-cut trees, matroids, and optimizing exponential algorithms. Can't wait to see what you have planned for the summer!”

    Romania
    ACTS 2024, ACTS 2025.1
    Ivan Osipenko
    Cyprus National Olympiad in Informatics 2nd place

    "The ACTS Camp in Serbia was the best camp I have ever been to. I enjoyed algorithmic lectures and IOI contests. Also, I really liked having lectures not only about algorithms and competitive programming, but also about cryptocurrency, Kotlin, and Bioinformatics. It was very useful!

    Besides studying, I played basketball, board games, and participated in fun activities organized by the camp.”

    Cyprus
    ACTS 2025.1
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FAQ

Will any certifications or awards be provided to participants?

Yes, participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Can I arrive at the venue earlier and/or depart later from the venue?

If you wish to arrive earlier or depart later from the location, please contact us via email as soon as possible to discuss your request.

How do I obtain a visa?

Once you have been accepted and have confirmed your participation in the camp, please review the visitor visa requirements on the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will provide you with an admission letter inviting you to the ACTS Camp, which you can include in your visa application. Please note that participants are responsible for obtaining their own visas.

Do I have to stay at the camp venue?

All camp participants are expected to remain at the venue throughout the program, with exceptions made for the scheduled field trip. Three meals a day will also be provided for you. The full address of the venue will be announced shortly.

Which programming languages can be used?

You can use any language that is supported on the Codeforces platform.

What is the camp fee and what does it cover?

The camp fee of 100 EUR, which is non-refundable, confirms your commitment to attending the camp. Payment methods will be communicated via email to invited participants before the camp begins. The academic program, accommodation, meal plan, and transportation are covered by the organisers. Please note that students are responsible for expenses such as visa fees, travel costs, health insurance, and spending money.

Do I need a visa to attend the ACTS Camp?

To determine whether you require a visa, please refer to the German entry requirements.