If your child is preparing for the USA Computing Olympiad, the first question is usually the same: when are the contests? This guide explains USACO exam dates, how the season is organised, how the US Open works, and how to plan your preparation around the calendar.
One important note before we start. USACO publishes each season's exact dates on its official website, usaco.org. At the time of writing (November 2026), the newest schedule shown there is still the 2025–2026 season. So this guide uses that schedule to show the usual pattern, and you should always check usaco.org for the confirmed dates of the next season.
What Is USACO?
The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a free online programming competition. Students solve hard problems by writing code in C, C++, Java or Python. According to USACO, there is never a fee to take part, and anyone in the world can enter the online contests.
USACO also has a serious purpose. Its results are used to choose finalists for a training camp, and from that camp the teams that represent the USA at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and the European Girls' Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI). Only pre-college students in the USA can be selected for camp and the teams, but students everywhere can compete online.
| Event (2025–2026 season) | Dates published on usaco.org |
|---|---|
| First Contest | Jan 9–12 |
| Second Contest | Jan 30–Feb 2 |
| Third Contest | Feb 20–23 |
| US Open (proctored) | Mar 28 |
| EGOI (Italy) | May 12–18 |
| Training Camp | May 21–30 |
| IOI (Uzbekistan) | Aug 9–16 |
The USACO Season Explained
Here is how a typical season works, step by step, based on the official schedule and rules.
1. Three Online Contests
In 2025–2026, the season had three online contests in early 2026, roughly three weeks apart. Each one ran over a weekend, from Friday to Monday. You could choose any single block of time inside that window to take the contest.
In earlier seasons, the online contests began in December. The season has changed before, so don't assume next year will match. Check the official schedule each autumn.
2. How Long Is Each Contest?
USACO says contests are typically 4 to 5 hours long and must be taken in one continuous block. Each contest usually has 3 or 4 problems. Once you start, the clock keeps running, so plan a quiet time when you won't be interrupted.
3. The US Open
After the online contests comes the US Open. In 2025–2026 it was a proctored invitational championship on March 28, for top US competitors from the online contests. USACO says the US Open was the main factor in choosing the finalists invited to the training camp.
So the answer to "when is the USACO US Open?" is usually: in spring, after the online contests. The exact date is posted on usaco.org.
4. Certified Scores for Gold and Platinum
USACO notes that US students who want a certified score in the Gold or Platinum contests must start at a set time: Saturday at 12:00 ET, when those problems are first released. Read the contest instructions before each contest, because these rules matter for students aiming for camp.
5. Training Camp, EGOI and IOI
The top US students are invited to a training camp in late May. In 2026 the EGOI team was chosen before camp because EGOI was held earlier than camp, and the IOI team of four students was selected at camp. The IOI itself takes place in summer.
Divisions and Promotion
USACO has four divisions: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. All new participants start in Bronze. Students who score well enough in a contest are promoted to the next division for future contests.
- In-contest promotion: if you get a perfect score during a contest, you are promoted straight away and can try the next division's problems in the same contest window.
- After-contest promotion: otherwise, everyone above that contest's promotion cutoff is promoted when results come out. The cutoff changes from contest to contest.
- Recent change: at the start of the 2025–2026 season, Platinum participants were reset to Gold. USACO says it may continue this, so check the rules each season.
Our guide on how to prepare for USACO Bronze explains what the first level needs, and our USACO course covers every division.
USACO Results and Leaderboard
After each contest, USACO posts the results on its website, with the contest problems and official solutions. High scorers appear in the published results for each division. These pages are also the best free practice material for the next contest, so save them.
Important Rules to Know Before Contest Day
- No AI help. USACO states that using generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT or Copilot, is prohibited. Our article Can ChatGPT solve USACO? explains why this matters.
- Work alone. No teams and no help from others during the contest.
- No pre-written code or templates. Only basic language documentation is allowed.
- Only your last submission counts for each problem.
- Serious penalties. USACO says rule breakers can be banned for life from all USACO activities.
How to Plan Your Preparation Around the Calendar
Because the online contests usually fall in winter, autumn is the perfect time to prepare.
- Autumn: learn your language well and solve past problems from your current division.
- A month before the first contest: take full practice contests under real time limits.
- Between contests: read the official solutions to problems you missed and practise those topics.
- After the season: learn the next division's topics, so you are ready to move up next year.
Save the dates in a calendar as soon as usaco.org publishes them, and plan family trips and exams around them.
USACO Preparation at Junior Coderz
Junior Coderz runs a live online USACO course taught by experienced engineers and competitive programmers. Students learn the exact topics each division needs, practise with real past problems and get personal feedback on their code. We plan the lessons around the contest calendar, so students peak at the right time.
Get Ready Before the Next USACO Contest
The best time to prepare is before the season starts. In a free trial class, your child works through a real USACO-style problem with an expert instructor, and you get an honest view of which division they are ready for and what to practise next.
- Live USACO Coaching
- Real Past Problems
- Personal Feedback
Mark the Calendar and Start Early
USACO rewards students who prepare steadily, not those who cram the week before. Check usaco.org for the new season's dates, save them, and start practising now. To learn more about our coding courses, visit Junior Coderz or follow us on Instagram.
FAQs
When are the USACO contests?
In 2025–2026 there were three online contests in January and February, then the US Open in late March. Check usaco.org for the next season's exact dates.
When is the USACO US Open?
The US Open is held in spring after the online contests. In 2025–2026 it was on March 28.
How long is a USACO contest?
Contests are typically 4 to 5 hours, taken in one continuous block within the contest window.
Is USACO free?
Yes. USACO says there is never any fee to take part.
Can students outside the USA take USACO?
Yes. Anyone can take the online contests. Only pre-college students in the USA can be selected for the training camp and the USA teams.
Where can I see USACO results?
Results, problems and official solutions for each contest are posted on usaco.org after the contest ends.
