64 teams, 26 countries: EuRoC’s most competitive edition yet
The European Rocketry Challenge has closed applications for its 2026 edition with a record 64 entries. Portugal is, for the second consecutive year, the most represented country.
From Riga to Lisbon, from Dublin to Warsaw. The 7th edition of EuRoC has closed its applications, setting a new record: 64 teams from 26 countries have registered to compete in Constância from 15 to 21 October. For the first time, the competition welcomes entries from Belgium, Latvia, and Estonia.
Of the 64 entries, 61 are eligible to compete, surpassing the 56 applications received in 2025. Portugal once again leads the field with eight teams, one more than last year, from universities across the country: RUBI (University of Beira Interior), RED (Instituto Superior Técnico), North Space (a consortium of eight universities, including IST and the University of Porto), MAST (University of Minho), ASTRO (NOVA School of Science and Technology), NAVEE Rocket Team (University of Aveiro), AERIS (Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa), and Porto Space Team (Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto).
The podium of most represented countries is completed by Germany with seven teams, one more than in 2025, and the United Kingdom with six, including one from Scotland.
Of the 61 eligible teams, 35 are using SRAD motors (developed by the teams themselves), and 26 are using COTS motors (commercial off-the-shelf). Within the SRAD category, 14 teams are working on liquid propulsion, 11 on solid, and 10 on hybrid. Most teams are targeting an apogee of 3,000 metres.
“Having more projects with motors developed from scratch by the teams themselves is the most exciting figure for us,” says Inês d’Ávila, EuRoC manager and head of Space Safety and Transportation programmes at the Portuguese Space Agency. “Over the years, teams have grown in ambition and in the challenges they set themselves. Students are learning about propulsion, materials, and aerodynamics to build and fly their own rockets. That is exactly the kind of training EuRoC was designed to promote.”
Among the applicants are at least three teams with a proven track record at EuRoC. Italy’s Skyward won the 2022 and 2024 editions, Austria’s Aerospace Team Graz took the title in 2023 and 2025, and Switzerland’s EPFL Rocket Team won the inaugural edition in 2021. Returning teams also include ARIS, BME, Imperial, STAR, DanStar, PoliW, TUDSat, HyEnd, WARR, and CTU.
Applications will now be assessed, beginning with a review of the technical reports submitted by each team, to select the 25 that will advance to the competition. “Where needed, we will reach out to teams directly to confirm the readiness of their projects,” says Inês d’Ávila. “We want to make sure that everyone who makes the journey to Constância is ready to make the most of every day — and to see their rocket leave the rail.”
The competition takes place from 15 to 21 October, with the support of the Municipality of Constância, which provides the Municipal Sports Pavilion to host the paddock, and the Portuguese Army, which makes the launch area at the Santa Margarida Military Camp available. Both partners also provide technical and human resources.
