First Round of TEKNOFEST 2025 Drone Championship Set to Launch in the TRNC

The first stage of the TEKNOFEST 2025 Drone Championship will take place on April 26–27 at NEUEvent Park, located on the Near East University campus in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Pilots will compete in thrilling high-speed races, showcasing the speed and maneuverability of their FPV (First-Person View) racing drones.

All drones must have a diameter between 180 mm and 250 mm, use batteries with a maximum voltage of 6S, and feature a carbon fiber frame. An analog video transmission system will be required—HD systems are not permitted. Pilots will fly on frequencies assigned by the organizers, and video transmitter (VTX) output power is capped at 25 mW. Any drones that fail to meet safety or technical requirements will not be allowed to participate.

The competition will follow a knockout format: pilots with the best times in the qualifying rounds will move on to the elimination stage. The overall winner will earn a place in the Drone World Cup. A total of 32 teams are set to compete this year.

Cash prizes will be awarded as follows:
First place – 30,000 TL
Second place – 20,000 TL
Third place – 10,000 TL

This year, the world’s largest aerospace and technology festival, TEKNOFEST, will be hosted in the TRNC for the first time. The main event will be held from May 1 to 4 at the site of the former Ercan Airport, and participant registration is already open.