European Bioinformatics League
A team competition in bioinformatics and computational biology for higher-education students across Europe, from a round of questions to a hackathon at the Bioinformatics Open Days 2027.
The 2027 edition
Registration
To be announced
Teams of two register online.
Round 1: Questions
To be announced
An online set of questions on biology, computer science and bioinformatics. Teams that reach the threshold go through.
Round 2: Capture the flag
To be announced
Hands-on computational biology challenges, each hiding a flag to find and submit. The best teams go through to the final.
Round 3: Hackathon
To be announced
Bioinformatics Open Days 2027
Finalists develop a project set by the organisers and present it in person at the Bioinformatics Open Days.
Who can take part
Teams of two students enrolled in a higher-education institution, at any level from first-year undergraduate to doctoral studies. Team members may come from any discipline: biology, computer science, mathematics, medicine or anything else. Both must be over 18 when they register. The full eligibility criteria are in the rules.
How teams progress
Each round selects the teams for the next one. The first round is an online set of questions; the second is a capture-the-flag contest of hands-on computational problems; the best teams then meet in person for a hackathon at the Bioinformatics Open Days 2027, where the winners are announced. Read how each round works.
Where the league comes from
The European Bioinformatics League grows out of the Liga Portuguesa de Bioinformática, which has run since 2022 and whose 2025 edition already drew teams from several European countries and beyond. More about the league.