SyntaxHacks 2026 is a free online hackathon on Devpost.

You have one job: build a real software project and ship it before the deadline.

Build whatever you want. A website, an app, a game, an AI tool, a browser extension, or the first thing you have ever coded. Solo is fine. Teams are fine. Use any language, framework, or API, including AI tools. If you use code, assets, or libraries you did not write, say so in your submission.

We judge on four things: whether it solves a real problem, how well it is built, how original it is, and how clearly you show it. 

Projects must be built during the hackathon. Work started before the event is not eligible.

Requirements

Submit one project on Devpost before the deadline. Every teammate should be added to the submission.

Required:

  • Project description. What it does, who it is for, and how to try it (Ensure all important aspects of your project are mentioned in this section).
  • Website or live link. A URL where judges can open the project. For a web project, this is the deployed site. For anything else, this is a live demo, hosted build, or other link where the project actually runs.
  • Code link. A public GitHub, GitLab, or Replit link that includes a README with setup steps. If a private API key is required, include a test key or a recorded path through the app.

Optional, and worth doing:

  • Video, highly recommended. Max 3 minutes. Show the project working, then explain what you built. Judges watch this before anything.
  • Pitch deck. A short PDF or Google Slides link. Problem, what you built, and how it works is enough.

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
PRIZES ARE TO BE DETERMINED
5 winners

Prizes will be a mix of cash prizes, gift cards, scholarships, free domains and merch, internship opportunities, and free credits.

Judges

JUDGES TBD

Judging Criteria

  • Real problem
    Someone would actually use this. The project picks a clear person and a clear problem, and the demo shows it helping.
  • The build
    It works. The code, the live link, and the features hold together, and the hard parts are real, not a costume on a template.
  • Originality
    It has its own idea. A familiar concept is fine if the team took it somewhere specific.
  • The demo
    A judge who has never seen the project can tell what it does, who it is for, and how to try it.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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