Our hackers have officially crossed the finish line, drawing the first Cisco CyberGames Americas 2026 Ethical Hacker marathon to a close and leaving behind a legacy of growth, community spirit and innovation. Over several months, members of our Cisco Networking Academy community connected with a sole purpose: to bridge the digital divide, sharpen cybersecurity skills, and prepare the next generation of tech professionals to thrive in an ever-changing digital economy.

This marathon wasn’t just a competition. It was a movement designed to foster talent and raise awareness about the importance of foundational digital skills. Through comprehensive, interactive training and dedicated support, we empowered both instructors and academies to reach more students than ever before, enabling the next generation with the knowledge they need to solve the problems of tomorrow, today.

Region-wide scaling: A marathon of impact

The sheer scale of this marathon was unprecedented, connecting people from the southern reaches of Chile to the northern landscapes of Canada, the vibrant neighborhoods of Mexico to diverse classrooms in the United States. The dedication and determination of the instructors, sponsors, students, and partners are undeniable across the Americas region.

• Total Registrants: Over 51,000 students
• Active Participants: 23,852
• Course Completions: 6,770
• Global Reach: 20 countries
• Community Support: 229 academies, 89 Academy Support Centers (ASCs), and over 360 dedicated instructors.

These impressive metrics are far more than data points; they represent thousands of lives changed through Cisco Networking Academy. Every course completion represents a student who gained the confidence to identify vulnerabilities and, in turn, protect digital assets, directly contributing to a more resilient tech workforce.

Diving head-first into ethical hacking

The success of this marathon stems from the 70-hour Ethical Hacker course, which provided students with a gamified, immersive path to skilling. By working with a challenging and playful format, students were able to understand how to spot deficiencies and engage in hands-on labs inspired by real-world scenarios.

Designed to move beyond theory, the curriculum enabled marathon participants to gain the expertise needed to protect digital assets before cybercriminals could exploit them. In addition to technical skilling, the marathon played an integral role in fostering community across the region.

Each day of the marathon, we saw Academy Support Centers (ASCs) go above and beyond, dedicating hours of time and energy to fueling the growth of thousands. Their commitment and passion have been a driving force behind this effort, highlighting that when we work together, we can accelerate learning and tech proficiency across continents.

After the completion of the marathon, energy reached an all-time high during the Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenge. This intense 3-hour competition was open to students who completed the Ethical Hacker course with a score of 70% or above. More than 1,000 students across 21 countries put their skills to the ultimate test, showcasing remarkable problem-solving and technical skills under pressure.

Celebrating excellence

While metrics tell the story of growth, the true heart of the Cisco CyberGames lies in the individuals and institutions that put everything they had into driving this initiative. Celebrating our winners is about much more than rewarding top scores. It’s about recognizing instructors who supported their students through complex vulnerability assessments and the academies who created an environment of healthy, competitive excellence.

To round out this incredible journey, our dedicated Cisco Networking Academy team livestreamed the awards ceremony, bringing our community together to celebrate these achievements.

The event featured personal congratulations and inspiring words from our regional leadership, including Rebeca De La Vega and Wayne Cuervo. Their messages highlighted the collective effort across our global community and the lasting impact these students have made and will make in the cybersecurity field.

Our top performers have raised the bar for the program’s future, proving that with the right skills, guidance, and support, anyone can achieve remarkable technical proficiency.

• Top Academy: Universidad Privada del Norte (Peru)
• Top Instructor: Katherine Susan LLanos Chacaltana (Universidad Privada del Norte, Peru)
• Top ASC: America Digital (Mexico)

To see our full list of winners, please visit our official event website. 

As we look towards the future, it’s clear that the marathon’s end does not mean the end of its impact. The skills gained by participants will continue to follow them throughout their lives and strengthen the backbone of the future workforce.

To all our students who crossed the finish line: your determination is the driving engine behind our mission. We encourage you to celebrate your journey and explore other courses to build upon your skills. Stay tuned for our next region-wide challenge; the future of tech is bright, and we are just getting started.

Learn more about other Cisco Networking Academy courses to build your skills and thrive in a digitally-driven world.