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The Ultimate Guide to the Best, Free Hackathons in 2026 (Full Year)
- Sam Booth Jacobsen
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
If you’ve ever wanted to pick up new tech skills, meet creative people, or build something you’re genuinely proud of, hackathons are one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start. You don’t need prior coding knowledge - many events include free online workshops, bootcamps, beginner tracks, tutorials, and live mentoring that help you learn the basics of AI, UX design, brainstorming, prototyping, and collaboration. These sessions ensure you feel confident and prepared before the competition even begins.
If you’re drawn to purpose-driven projects, it’s easier than ever to find social-impact, sustainability, climate, and community innovation hackathons. And if you want something more structured, joining a corporate-sponsored hackathon is often as simple as signing up solo or creating a team right on the platform.
Throughout all of these events, you’ll use friendly tools like Figma, GitHub, VS Code, cloud notebooks, Miro, Notion, and no-code builders, giving you everything you need to collaborate quickly and build something that works.
This guide is continuously updated to highlight the best free virtual and hybrid hackathons across winter, spring, summer, and fall - including registration links, prizes, topics, deadlines, and why each one is worth joining.
🔎 What This Guide Covers
In this ultimate 2026 hackathon guide, you’ll discover:
The best free virtual, hybrid, and global hackathons in each season
Where to find online hackathon workshops and bootcamps
How to join sustainability and social-impact hackathons
How to find local hackathons near you
How to register a team for corporate-sponsored hackathons
The most common tools and software used during hackathons
Which companies sponsor the world’s biggest hackathons
Beginner-friendly tips and reasons to join throughout the year
This post is continuously updated with details as they become available.
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❄️ Winter Hackathons 2026
What is the purpose of a hackathon?
Winter is a season of fresh starts, renewed focus, and goal-setting, which makes it the ideal time to join your first hackathon. At their core, hackathons exist to help you solve real problems in a short, focused burst of creativity - whether that’s building an app, designing a sustainability solution, or launching your first prototype. They’re designed to encourage experimentation, collaboration, and learning by doing. Winter’s reflective energy makes it the perfect moment to channel motivation into meaningful progress.
🔗 Register/Join here:
Registration open from Mon, Jan 12, 9am to Mon, Jan 26, 5pm 2026 CEST.
🧠 Topic
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and fostering innovation and digitalisation.
📅 When
Monday, 12th of January, 09:00 am - Monday, 26th of January 2026 (17:00 / 05.00 pm CEST) .
👥Who Can Join
Currently enrolled engineering and engineering-related students worldwide at bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD level (excluding postdocs), with teams requiring a majority of members from an engineering background.
Secondary school students, non-engineering university students, recent graduates at any level, and learners in vocational, technical, and polytechnic programs.
Register as an individual, then form a team of 3-5 people.
🏆 Prizes
You can win:
Cash prizes
Recognition
Mentoring opportunities
Global exposure
You will be judged on: Application of engineering knowledge, Originality, Use of digital tools and new technologies, Contribution to the UN SDGs, Successful collaboration
The winner announced on World Engineering Day 2026 (Wednesday, 4th of March).
✨ What Sets It Apart
This global online hackathon celebrates sustainable engineering and innovation tied to the UN’s goals. The challenges focus on building smarter cities, cleaner energy systems, and equitable digital access - all aimed at progress that supports both people and the planet. Although engineering-focused, the event welcomes participants with various levels of technical experience - creatives, storytellers, and coders alike. Teams tackle real sustainability challenges that have human and environmental impact. The event is supported by international institutions, giving it a globally recognized footprint.
🚀 Why YOU Should Join
🌱 Work on meaningful sustainability challenges that have real-world relevance.
🧠 Collaborate with interdisciplinary teammates - you don’t need an engineering background to contribute.
📚 Learn from experts and workshops focused on future-ready STEM skills.
🔗 Register/Join here:
Registration open until hackathon start on Monday, February 2, 2026 (10:00 AM PT).
Required: Create an account on Devpost.
🧠 Topic
Build apps (Mobile App / Web App) from scratch from the available set of Challenges.
📅 When
Monday 2nd of February (10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PST) - Friday 20th of February 2026 (10:00 AM PST).
👥Who Can Join
18 years and older.
Teams (1 - 5 people) will be formed on Devpost.com.
Participants from any country are allowed to participate (except Brazil, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Qubec, Russia, Syria).
🏆 Prizes
$12,500 USD value:
- Amazon Echos (Up to 5)
- DevNetwork Premium All-Access Passes to all 2026 virtual conferences
- Announcement in Devpost’s email to 60,000 subscribers listing your team and project
✨ What Sets It Apart
DeveloperWeek stands out because its hackathon challenges are built around real industry problems submitted by sponsoring tech companies. Teams are judged on three clear criteria that push you to build something meaningful: Progress, Concept, and Feasibility. Judges look closely at how far your project evolves during the event, whether your idea solves a legitimate real-world problem, and whether it has the potential to grow into a viable startup. This structure makes the hackathon feel like a launchpad - not just a weekend project.
🚀 Why YOU Should Join
🔍 Show you can execute fast - the Progress criterion rewards teams that build real features and demonstrate momentum.
💡 Test a startup-worthy idea in a supportive environment where the Concept and Feasibility criteria help you validate whether your solution solves a real problem.
🚀 Stand out to recruiters and investors by proving you can turn an idea into a functional prototype with genuine market potential.
🌿 Spring Hackathons 2026
Is a hackathon just coding?
Spring brings renewal, creativity, and fresh energy, making it the ideal time to join a hackathon focused on exploring new roles and ideas. Hackathons aren’t just about coding - they blend creativity, design, storytelling, ideation, research, and problem-solving. From UX design to pitch writing to prototyping, everyone has a role. Spring’s spirit of rebirth makes it perfect for testing new skills and bringing fresh concepts to life.
🌿 Coming Soon
☀️ Summer Hackathons 2026
Are hackathons good for beginners?
Absolutely - summer hackathons are some of the most beginner-friendly of the year. With more free time, flexible schedules, and a naturally creative summer energy, it’s easier to experiment without pressure. Many summer events offer step-by-step tutorials, mentors, starter kits, and beginner challenges, making them ideal for your very first hackathon. Summer’s openness and extra time make it the perfect season to try something new and build confidence.
☀️ Coming Soon
🍂 Fall Hackathons 2026
How long do hackathons usually last?
Fall hackathons (well actually most hackathons), typically run 24 hours to one week, depending on format, complexity, and mentorship structure. Many combine online work with hybrid hubs for in-person teamwork, giving participants structured time to focus before the year ends. Fall’s reflective, productive energy makes it a great time to build something impactful and finish the year with a strong project.
🍂 Coming Soon
🌐 Where to Find the Best Virtual Hackathons in 2026
What are the best platforms to register for virtual hackathons?
If you're new to hackathons, there are several reliable platforms where you can find free, global, and beginner-friendly events all year long. These sites list AI hackathons, sustainability events, coding competitions, social-impact challenges, and corporate-sponsored buildathons. Whether you want a weekend sprint or a multi-week accelerator, these platforms give you everything you need to prepare and join.
🔥 Best Platforms to Discover Virtual Hackathons
Lablab.ai: A great platform for AI-focused hackathons, especially fast-paced generative AI challenges with strong beginner support.
Major League Hacking (MLH): The gold standard for student-friendly and beginner-friendly hackathons, with virtual events running nearly every weekend.
Devpost: The largest global directory of online hackathons - ideal for software, AI, design, and hardware challenges with strong prize pools.
Unstop: A fast-growing international platform listing open hackathons in tech, business, and innovation, with many virtual options.
OpenHackathons.org: Perfect for AI, HPC, GPU computing, and scientific hackathons designed for all skill levels with professional coaching.
Google Developers Events: A trusted source for official Google hackathons, workshops, and online developer competitions.
Dev.Events: A clean, global aggregator that makes it easy to browse virtual and hybrid hackathons happening throughout the year.
Because these platforms focus heavily on virtual and hybrid events, they’re the best places to register for online hackathons in 2026 - no travel, no limits, just creativity and community.
❓ Mini FAQ for First-Time Hackers
How do I join my first hackathon as a beginner?
Sign up solo or with friends - most events help you form teams, offer tutorials, and provide beginner tracks.
Where can I find sustainability or social-impact hackathons?
Devpost, Unstop, EarthBeat, and World Engineering Day host regular climate and sustainability-focused challenges.
How long do hackathons last?
They typically run 24 hours to 7 days, depending on format.
What tools do I need?
Most participants use GitHub, VS Code, Figma, Notion, cloud notebooks, and no-code builders.
⭐ Final Thoughts: Your Next Great Project Starts Here
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to try something new, this is it. Hackathons are one of the most energizing ways to gain new skills, meet creative people, and build something meaningful - even with no experience. With workshops, mentors, teammates, and beginner-friendly challenges, you're supported every step of the way.
One weekend (or even a single evening) can give you new skills, a portfolio project, and the confidence that comes from building something real. All you need is curiosity - not expertise.
So take the leap: sign up for a hackathon, explore that idea you’ve been sitting on, and discover what you can create when you give yourself permission to try. You might walk away surprised by what you're capable of.
🚀 Ready to Try Your First Hackathon?
Visit The Changing Booth for more activities that help you learn new skills, explore digital opportunities, and discover what you’re capable of creating.
📚 Recommended Reading for New Hackers
If you’re excited to explore more, here are a few guides to help you build confidence and get the most out of every event:
These resources give you practical tips, insider strategies, and beginner-friendly advice to help you show up prepared - and leave feeling proud of what you built.
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