About the challenge
NGN Hacks 2026 is a worldwide online hackathon for high school students in Grades 9–12 who want to build, learn, and create something meaningful with technology.
This hackathon is open to beginners and experienced hackers. You do not need to be an expert coder to join. The goal is to learn, work with others, solve a real problem, and build a project you are proud of.
Participants can create projects in areas like artificial intelligence, education, sustainability, health, productivity, accessibility, finance, cybersecurity, and other creative technology ideas.
NGN Hacks is designed to help students gain real experience, improve their skills, meet other motivated students, and build something they can add to their portfolio, resume, or university applications.
Get started
1. Register for the hackathon on Devpost.
2. Join the NGN Hacks community and check for updates.
3. Form a team or compete individually.
4. Read the rules, judging criteria, and prize information.
5. Choose a problem you want to solve.
6. Build your project during the hackathon.
7. Submit your project before the deadline.
You can work alone or with a team. Your project does not have to be perfect. What matters most is that you show creativity, effort, problem-solving, and a clear explanation of what you built.
The hackathon will run online from August 7 to August 9, 2026.
Requirements
What to Build
Participants must build a technology-based project that solves a problem or creates value for a specific group of people.
Your project can be a website, app, AI tool, game, automation, hardware idea, prototype, design concept, or another digital solution.
Projects can focus on topics such as:
- Education
- Artificial Intelligence
- Health and Wellness
- Accessibility
- Sustainability
- Productivity
- Finance
- Cybersecurity
- Community Impact
- Student Life
- Creative Technology
- Non-Profit
Your project should clearly show:
- What problem you are solving
- Who your project is for
- How your solution works
- What tools or technologies you used
- What makes your idea useful, creative, or meaningful
- Projects must be created during the hackathon period. You may use public libraries, APIs, templates, or open-source tools, but your main project idea and work must be your own.
What to Submit
Each team or individual must submit the following on Devpost:
1. Project title
2. Short project description
3. Full explanation of what the project does
4. The problem your project solves
5. The tools, languages, or platforms you used
6. A link to your project, demo, GitHub repo, or prototype
7. A short demo video or presentation showing how your project works
8. Screenshots or visuals of your project, if available
9. Team member names and roles
Your submission should be clear enough that judges can understand what you built, why it matters, and how it works.
Make sure your project links are working before submitting. Late submissions may not be accepted.
Prizes
First Place
Awarded to the strongest overall project at NGN Hacks 2026 based on the judging criteria. This project should show strong creativity, impact, technical quality, design, presentation, and completion.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Second Place
Awarded to the second strongest overall project at NGN Hacks 2026 based on the judging criteria. This project should show a strong idea, clear execution, good design, and a useful solution.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Third Place
Awarded to the third strongest overall project at NGN Hacks 2026 based on the judging criteria. This project should show clear effort, creativity, technical work, and a strong explanation of the solution.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Most Creative Solution
Awarded to the project with the most original, creative, and interesting idea. Judges will look for a solution that shows strong imagination, unique thinking, and a fresh approach to solving a problem.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Best Beginner Project
Awarded to the strongest project created by a beginner team or beginner participant. Judges will look for effort, learning, improvement, creativity, and a clear explanation of what was built.
This prize is meant to recognize students who are newer to coding, design, technology, or hackathons.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Best Use of Featherless AI
Awarded to the project that uses Featherless AI in the most useful, creative, or technically impressive way. Judges will look at how well Featherless AI is connected to the project, how it improves the solution, and how clearly the team explains its use.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Best Use of SelfCAD
Awarded to the project that uses SelfCAD in the most creative, useful, or well-explained way. Judges will look at how SelfCAD was used in the design, prototype, model, or project concept.
Prize details will be announced before the hackathon begins.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
To Be Determined
Judging Criteria
-
Creativity and Originality
How unique, interesting, and creative is the project idea? Judges will look for original thinking, creative problem-solving, and ideas that are not just simple copies of existing apps, websites, or tools. -
Impact and Usefulness
How well does the project solve a real problem or help a specific group of people? Judges will look at who the project is for, why the problem matters, and how useful the solution could be in real life. -
Technical Quality
How well was the project built? Judges will look at the tools used, the features included, the amount of effort shown, and how well the project works as a demo, prototype, or finished product. -
Design and User Experience
How clear, organized, and easy to use is the project? Judges will look at the layout, visuals, navigation, and overall experience for the user. -
Presentation and Exploration
How clearly does the team explain the project? Judges will look at the Devpost description, demo video, screenshots, links, and how well the team explains what they built, how it works, and why it matters. -
Completion and Execution
How complete is the project by the submission deadline? Judges will look for clear progress, effort, and a working demo, prototype, or proof of concept. The project does not need to be perfect, but it should be understandable and well executed.
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Invite others to compete
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