diff --git a/.env_sample b/.env_sample
index 6bd01cfbd..3685e6277 100644
--- a/.env_sample
+++ b/.env_sample
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ ALLOWED_HOSTS=localhost,example.com
 SUBMISSIONS_API_URL=http://django:8000/api
 MAX_EXECUTION_TIME_LIMIT=600 # time limit for the default queue (in seconds)
 
+# Global default for competition creation permissions.
+# If True, authenticated users can create competitions unless their user override says otherwise.
+# If False, authenticated users need an explicit user override to create competitions.
+COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=True
+
 # Local domain definition
 DOMAIN_NAME=localhost:80
 
diff --git a/src/apps/api/permissions.py b/src/apps/api/permissions.py
index 3426a41f0..5cc64790b 100644
--- a/src/apps/api/permissions.py
+++ b/src/apps/api/permissions.py
@@ -1,8 +1,32 @@
+from django.conf import settings
 from rest_framework import permissions
 
 from profiles.models import Membership
 
 
+def competition_creation_enabled_by_default():
+    return getattr(settings, "COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT", True)
+
+
+def user_can_create_competition(user):
+    if not user or not user.is_authenticated:
+        return False
+
+    if user.is_superuser:
+        return True
+
+    user_override = getattr(user, "can_create_competition", None)
+    if user_override is not None:
+        return user_override
+
+    return competition_creation_enabled_by_default()
+
+
+class IsCompetitionCreator(permissions.BasePermission):
+    def has_permission(self, request, view):
+        return user_can_create_competition(request.user)
+
+
 class IsOrganizerOrCollaborator(permissions.BasePermission):
     def has_object_permission(self, request, view, obj):
         is_collab = request.user in obj.collaborators.all() if hasattr(obj, 'collaborators') else False
diff --git a/src/apps/api/tests/test_competitions.py b/src/apps/api/tests/test_competitions.py
index 2c96e78b0..0934c5148 100644
--- a/src/apps/api/tests/test_competitions.py
+++ b/src/apps/api/tests/test_competitions.py
@@ -4,15 +4,39 @@
 from zipfile import ZipFile
 from io import StringIO, BytesIO
 from unittest import mock
+from django.test import override_settings
 from django.urls import reverse
 from rest_framework.test import APITestCase
 
+from api.permissions import user_can_create_competition
 from api.serializers.competitions import CompetitionSerializer
 from competitions.models import CompetitionParticipant, Submission, Competition
 from factories import UserFactory, CompetitionFactory, CompetitionParticipantFactory, PhaseFactory, LeaderboardFactory, \
     ColumnFactory, SubmissionFactory, SubmissionScoreFactory, TaskFactory
 
 
+class CompetitionCreatePermissionTests(APITestCase):
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=True)
+    def test_defaults_to_global_setting_when_user_has_no_override(self):
+        user = UserFactory(can_create_competition=None)
+        assert user_can_create_competition(user) is True
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=False)
+    def test_denies_when_global_default_is_disabled_and_user_has_no_override(self):
+        user = UserFactory(can_create_competition=None)
+        assert user_can_create_competition(user) is False
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=False)
+    def test_user_override_can_enable_creation_even_when_global_default_is_disabled(self):
+        user = UserFactory(can_create_competition=True)
+        assert user_can_create_competition(user) is True
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=True)
+    def test_user_override_can_disable_creation_even_when_global_default_is_enabled(self):
+        user = UserFactory(can_create_competition=False)
+        assert user_can_create_competition(user) is False
+
+
 class CompetitionTests(APITestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.creator = UserFactory(username='creator', password='creator')
diff --git a/src/apps/api/tests/test_datasets.py b/src/apps/api/tests/test_datasets.py
index b116184d7..588dcb8fb 100644
--- a/src/apps/api/tests/test_datasets.py
+++ b/src/apps/api/tests/test_datasets.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 from django.urls import reverse
 from faker import Factory
+from django.test import override_settings
 from django.test import TestCase
 from rest_framework.test import APITestCase
 from datasets.models import Data
+from competitions.models import CompetitionCreationTaskStatus
 from factories import (
     UserFactory,
     DataFactory,
@@ -212,6 +214,50 @@ def test_download_nonexistent_dataset(self):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
 
 
+class DatasetUploadCompletedPermissionTests(APITestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = UserFactory()
+        self.client.force_login(self.user)
+        self.dataset = DataFactory(created_by=self.user, type=Data.COMPETITION_BUNDLE)
+        self.url = f"/api/datasets/completed/{self.dataset.key}/"
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=False)
+    @patch("competitions.tasks.unpack_competition.apply_async")
+    def test_upload_completed_forbidden_when_global_default_is_disabled(self, mock_apply_async):
+        response = self.client.put(self.url)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
+        self.assertEqual(response.data["detail"], "You do not have permission to create competitions")
+        self.assertEqual(CompetitionCreationTaskStatus.objects.count(), 0)
+        mock_apply_async.assert_not_called()
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=False)
+    @patch("competitions.tasks.unpack_competition.apply_async")
+    def test_upload_completed_allowed_when_user_override_is_enabled(self, mock_apply_async):
+        self.user.can_create_competition = True
+        self.user.save(update_fields=["can_create_competition"])
+
+        response = self.client.put(self.url)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertIn("status_id", response.data)
+        self.assertEqual(CompetitionCreationTaskStatus.objects.count(), 1)
+        mock_apply_async.assert_called_once()
+
+    @override_settings(COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT=True)
+    @patch("competitions.tasks.unpack_competition.apply_async")
+    def test_upload_completed_forbidden_when_user_override_is_disabled(self, mock_apply_async):
+        self.user.can_create_competition = False
+        self.user.save(update_fields=["can_create_competition"])
+
+        response = self.client.put(self.url)
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 403)
+        self.assertEqual(response.data["detail"], "You do not have permission to create competitions")
+        self.assertEqual(CompetitionCreationTaskStatus.objects.count(), 0)
+        mock_apply_async.assert_not_called()
+
+
 class DatasetCreateTests(APITestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.user = UserFactory(username='creator', password='creator')
diff --git a/src/apps/api/views/competitions.py b/src/apps/api/views/competitions.py
index 09bd4c474..0ed666929 100644
--- a/src/apps/api/views/competitions.py
+++ b/src/apps/api/views/competitions.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from rest_framework.exceptions import PermissionDenied, ValidationError
 from rest_framework.filters import SearchFilter
 from rest_framework.generics import get_object_or_404
-from rest_framework.permissions import AllowAny, IsAuthenticated
+from rest_framework.permissions import AllowAny
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.renderers import JSONRenderer
 from rest_framework_csv.renderers import CSVRenderer
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 from competitions.utils import get_popular_competitions, get_recent_competitions
 from leaderboards.models import Leaderboard
 from utils.data import make_url_sassy
-from api.permissions import IsOrganizerOrCollaborator
+from api.permissions import IsOrganizerOrCollaborator, IsCompetitionCreator
 from django.db import transaction
 from django.conf import settings
 
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def get_permissions(self):
         if self.action in ['update', 'partial_update', 'destroy']:
             self.permission_classes = [IsOrganizerOrCollaborator]
         elif self.action in ['create']:
-            self.permission_classes = [IsAuthenticated]
+            self.permission_classes = [IsCompetitionCreator]
         elif self.action in ['retrieve', 'list']:
             self.permission_classes = [AllowAny]
         return [permission() for permission in self.permission_classes]
diff --git a/src/apps/api/views/datasets.py b/src/apps/api/views/datasets.py
index 0c95a8a3c..d37e845a3 100644
--- a/src/apps/api/views/datasets.py
+++ b/src/apps/api/views/datasets.py
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 from django_filters.rest_framework import DjangoFilterBackend
 from rest_framework import status
 from rest_framework.decorators import api_view, action
+from rest_framework.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 from rest_framework.filters import SearchFilter
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.viewsets import ModelViewSet
 from rest_framework.permissions import AllowAny
 
+from api.permissions import user_can_create_competition
 from api.pagination import BasicPagination, LargePagination
 from api.serializers import datasets as serializers
 from datasets.models import Data
@@ -266,6 +268,9 @@ def upload_completed(request, key):
     dataset.save()
 
     if dataset.type == Data.COMPETITION_BUNDLE:
+        if not user_can_create_competition(request.user):
+            raise PermissionDenied("You do not have permission to create competitions")
+
         # Doing a local import here to avoid circular imports
         from competitions.tasks import unpack_competition
 
diff --git a/src/apps/profiles/admin.py b/src/apps/profiles/admin.py
index a3ad7bfe8..f43679deb 100644
--- a/src/apps/profiles/admin.py
+++ b/src/apps/profiles/admin.py
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class UserExpansion(UserAdmin):
     list_filter = [
         "is_staff",
         "is_superuser",
+        "can_create_competition",
         "is_deleted",
         "is_bot",
         "is_banned",
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ class UserExpansion(UserAdmin):
         "quota",
         "is_staff",
         "is_superuser",
+        "can_create_competition",
         "is_banned",
     ]
     list_display_links = ["id", "username"]
@@ -114,6 +116,7 @@ class UserExpansion(UserAdmin):
                 "fields": [
                     ("is_active", "is_bot"),
                     (
+                        "can_create_competition",
                         "organizer_direct_message_updates",
                         "allow_forum_notifications",
                         "allow_organization_invite_emails",
diff --git a/src/apps/profiles/migrations/0022_user_can_create_competition.py b/src/apps/profiles/migrations/0022_user_can_create_competition.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f4cfe54e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/profiles/migrations/0022_user_can_create_competition.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Generated by Django 4.2.25 on 2026-05-21 00:00
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("profiles", "0021_merge_0020_alter_user_quota_0020_merge_20251212_0942"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name="user",
+            name="can_create_competition",
+            field=models.BooleanField(
+                blank=True,
+                default=None,
+                help_text="Leave blank to inherit the global competition creation default.",
+                null=True,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/apps/profiles/models.py b/src/apps/profiles/models.py
index 042c7d0a1..c2b111a6a 100644
--- a/src/apps/profiles/models.py
+++ b/src/apps/profiles/models.py
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ class User(AbstractBaseUser, PermissionsMixin):
     organizer_direct_message_updates = models.BooleanField(default=True)
     allow_forum_notifications = models.BooleanField(default=True)
     allow_organization_invite_emails = models.BooleanField(default=True)
+    can_create_competition = models.BooleanField(
+        null=True,
+        blank=True,
+        default=None,
+        help_text="Leave blank to inherit the global competition creation default.",
+    )
 
     # Queues
     rabbitmq_queue_limit = models.PositiveIntegerField(default=5, blank=True)
diff --git a/src/settings/base.py b/src/settings/base.py
index ed5b978d7..e4a29873d 100644
--- a/src/settings/base.py
+++ b/src/settings/base.py
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@
 # User Models
 AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'profiles.User'
 SOCIAL_AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'profiles.User'
+COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT = os.environ.get(
+    'COMPETITION_CREATION_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT',
+    'True',
+).lower() == 'true'
 
 # =============================================================================
 # Debugging
diff --git a/src/static/riot/competitions/management.tag b/src/static/riot/competitions/management.tag
index 1c065fc76..5e837aaef 100644
--- a/src/static/riot/competitions/management.tag
+++ b/src/static/riot/competitions/management.tag
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
     <div class="ui center aligned grid">
         <div class="fourteen wide column">
             <h1 style="float: left; display: inline-block;">Benchmark Management</h1>
-            <a class="ui right floated green button" href="{ URLS.COMPETITION_UPLOAD }">
+            <a if="{ CODALAB.state.user.can_create_competition }" class="ui right floated green button" href="{ URLS.COMPETITION_UPLOAD }">
                 <i class="upload icon"></i> Upload
             </a>
-            <a class="ui right floated green button" href="{ URLS.COMPETITION_ADD }">
+            <a if="{ CODALAB.state.user.can_create_competition }" class="ui right floated green button" href="{ URLS.COMPETITION_ADD }">
                 <i class="add square icon"></i> Create
             </a>
         </div>
diff --git a/src/static/riot/competitions/public-list.tag b/src/static/riot/competitions/public-list.tag
index 75e31369d..de2f31c30 100644
--- a/src/static/riot/competitions/public-list.tag
+++ b/src/static/riot/competitions/public-list.tag
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   <!-- Title -->
   <div class="page-header">
     <h1 class="page-title">Public Benchmarks and Competitions</h1>
-    <div class="action-buttons">
+    <div class="action-buttons" if="{ CODALAB.state.user.can_create_competition }">
       <a class="create-btn" href="{ URLS.COMPETITION_ADD }">
         <i class="bi bi-plus-square-fill me-1"></i> Create
       </a>
diff --git a/src/utils/context_processors.py b/src/utils/context_processors.py
index edde91d0b..bdba4d37e 100644
--- a/src/utils/context_processors.py
+++ b/src/utils/context_processors.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 from django.conf import settings
+from api.permissions import user_can_create_competition
 
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 # Set the absolute path for the version file
@@ -19,10 +20,11 @@ def common_settings(request):
             "bio": request.user.bio,
             "is_staff": request.user.is_staff,
             "is_superuser": request.user.is_superuser,
+            "can_create_competition": user_can_create_competition(request.user),
             "logged_in": request.user.is_authenticated,
         }
     else:
-        user_json_data = {"logged_in": False}
+        user_json_data = {"logged_in": False, "can_create_competition": False}
 
     # Read version information from the version.json file
     version_info = {}