What is a hackathon?
First time hearing about hackathons? You’re in good company. Every year, thousands of students discover the magic of these weekend-long “invention marathons.”
Think of it as a creative sprint where you team up to bring a wild idea to life—building anything from a game-changing app to a quirky robot. Whether you’re a coding veteran or just starting, hackathons are your launchpad to learn new skills, meet future collaborators, find career opportunities, and have an unforgettable weekend.
The 2025 Season Recap
The 2025 Hackathon Season was an incredible journey. Last year alone, we empowered more than 150,000 hackers across 184 hackathons and other programs. Across all those programs, hackers created over 12,500 projects!
Here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments:
Hackers leveled up with AI!
It’s no secret that Artificial Intelligence is everywhere nowadays, and hackathons are no exception! Our community is embracing the ever-changing landscape of AI and using these tools to supercharge their projects. Never before have we seen so many hackers go from their very first hello world to a fully functional project so quickly. Our community is learning how to utilize these tools to ship better projects faster by leveraging them as debuggers, copy editors, idea generators, and more.
Mini Events and Meetups Blossomed
For many hackers, the events that occur during the hackathon are just as important (or more important!) than the hackathon itself. We launched TechTogether meetups, providing hackers with an opportunity to connect and discuss the topics that matter to them. Organizers leaned into themes and got creative, like HackGT, which hosted an entire carnival at their event last fall. uOttaHack took things outdoors and ventured to a local (and very frozen) canal to ice skate.
Introducing MLH’s 2026 Hackathon Season!
We’re excited to announce the official launch of the 2026 Major League Hacking Hackathon Season! Our 2026 Season will run from July 2025 through June 2026 and will feature over 200 student hackathons worldwide. We also just announced our new mascot, Jewel the Jumper Wire Jellyfish!
2026 Season Sneak Peek
If you’re ready to sign up for your first event of the new Season, we just released the initial roster of 2026 events! Be sure to keep a close eye on our season schedule, as we’ll be adding many more great events over the next few months. For real-time updates on events as they are added, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Discord.
Hack the North – September 12-14, 2025 in Waterloo, Canada
True to its Canadian roots, Hack the North offers opportunities for all kinds of hackers, including those from underrepresented and underserved communities. Embodying a spirit of radical welcome, as many as 1/3rd of its 1,000+ attendees are first-time hackers, and the hackathon provides as many accommodations as possible. It’s Hack the North’s mission to enable anyone and everyone to dream big and build.
Hack Dearborn – October 11-12, 2025 in Dearborn, Michigan
Love mysteries? Ready to push your limits and meet incredible people? Hack Dearborn returns October 11–12, 2025 with Escape Reality, a weekend of digital puzzles, awesome tech, and ideas that challenge perception. Join us for 24 hours of creating, connecting, and uncovering.
KnightHacks – October 24-26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida
Knight Hacks VIII is set to be its biggest version yet! Welcoming 700 hackers to UCF, this event promises an unforgettable weekend. While the 36 hours of coding, engaging workshops, and huge prizes are incredible, we have to give a special shoutout to their legendary swag team, who consistently knock it out of the park and ensure you leave with more than just great memories. If you want to experience an unforgettable hackathon and walk away with some of the best, most sought-after swag of the year, Knight Hacks is the place to be.
HackUTD – November 8-9, 2025 in Richardson, Texas
HackUTD has plenty of fun events, technical workshops, and sponsor fair opportunities planned for 2025! With an expanded reach to schools worldwide, HackUTD will keep its top-tier snacks stocked throughout the hackathon and host a plethora of workshops by sponsors and local UT Dallas student organizations.
Hack BI – January 17-18, 2026 in Alexandria, Virginia
Hack BI is a hackathon for high school and middle school students of all skill levels and backgrounds, with an audience of over 300 hackers! The event also includes introductory workshops taught by Bishop Ireton students to help attendees with no prior coding experience walk away with new technical knowledge.
ElleHacks – January 23-25, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario
ElleHacks is Canada’s largest hackathon for women and gender-diverse students, running for its 10th iteration! It’s a free, student-run, and beginner-friendly competition serving as your canvas to pitch bold solutions to global challenges, participate in engaging workshops, and connect with a diverse community of recruiters, industry professionals, and peers.
HackByte – April 3-5, 2026 in Jabalpur, MP
HackByte, held at IIITDM Jabalpur, serves as a platform to create real-world solutions that benefit the wider community. With a commitment to inclusivity, this hackathon acts as a launchpad for beginners, sparking their interest in development and providing friendly guidance throughout the event. From hacks that predict alternate realities using Google Gemini to smart identity cards with SOS features, the third edition of HackByte with 400+ hackers was a resounding success!
DiamondHacks – April 4-5, 2026 in San Diego, California
DiamondHacks at UCSD empowers hackers to build innovative and impactful projects! With plenty of workshops and sponsor engagements, there’s something here for everyone regardless of technical expertise.
Bitcamp – April 10-12, 2026 in College Park, Maryland
Bitcamp is the University of Maryland’s annual spring hackathon – join 1000+ students to collaborate and grow with endless opportunities, regardless of your level of experience. It’s a space for influencing a diverse group of the nation’s brightest makers, all working on different projects and possessing different skill sets, and educating the next generation of technologists. Your adventure awaits by the campfire!
We believe the 2026 Hackathon Season will be our most exciting yet, and it all comes down to you. Join the thousands of hackers around the world who are ready to Learn, Build, and Share together. Find one of the first events of the season in the list above and claim your spot. Let’s make something amazing!
Interested in bringing a hackathon to your school?
Want to bring a hackathon to your local community? We’re here to help! You can apply now for your hackathon to become a Member Event, or email us at league@mlh.io to learn more about the application process.
