List of hackathons about student in 2026

Join us for the AI Builders Challenge sponsored by IBM SkillsBuild, a global program for university students to gain hands-on experience building real-world AI solutions using IBM technologies. Through monthly challenges, hands-on labs, and a collaborative community, you’ll develop practical skills and create portfolio-ready projects.The June Challenge, inspired by the World Cup, invites you to take on the challenge: Create AI-powered solutions that help fans better understand the game before, during, or after a match. Whether focused on tactics, officiating decisions, or fan engagement, your project should showcase how explainable, human-centered AI can improve trust, accessibility, and understanding at a global scale.Submissions due June 30th at 11:59 PM ET.To be eligible to enter the Contest, you must be a student enrolled in an institution of higher education and a legal resident of, and/or be part of an organization registered in: the United States of America, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland), and India.Register Now!

Join us March 19–20, 2026 at North Carolina Central University for the NCCU AI Hackathon, an in-person student hackathon powered by IBM SkillsBuild. Open to university students across Durham and surrounding campuses, this event challenges teams to design responsible, sustainable agentic AI solutions across three industry tracks: Healthcare & Life Sciences, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Education & Workforce Intelligence.Participants will gain hands-on experience with IBM technologies, including watsonx Orchestrate and IBM SkillsBuild, collaborate directly with IBM mentors and industry experts, and build portfolio-ready projects.Teams will compete for a $10,000 prize pool sponsored by IBM while developing practical skills and professional connections that extend beyond the event.Register now!

Join us at Cal State LA on March 16th & 17th for the CSU AI Hackathon, an in-person hackathon powered by IBM SkillsBuild that brings together university students from Cal State LA and surrounding CSU campuses to apply artificial intelligence to real-world industry challenges.Participants will collaborate in teams to design innovative, AI-powered solutions across three industry-focused challenge tracks: Healthcare and Life Sciences, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Education and Workforce Intelligence. Your AI-solutions will also need an emphasis on responsible AI, and highlight how agentic AI is being used in a sustainable manner. Throughout the event, students will gain hands-on experience with IBM technologies such as watsonx Orchestrate and IBM SkillsBuild, while working alongside IBM experts and industry mentors to explore how AI can be applied responsibly and ethically to solve pressing business challenges.Compete for a share of $10,000 in cash prizes while developing technical and professional skills, building your portfolio, and connecting with peers and professionals shaping the future of AI innovation.Register now!