Banana Hacks

Overview

Banana Hacks 2026 is a free, week-long online hackathon specifically focused on generative AI and image creation. Participants are invited to build innovative AI tools, fine-tune various image and diffusion models, and develop surprising AI-powered projects. The event spans multiple tracks including image generation, model fine-tuning, and creative tools. This completely virtual hackathon allows individuals from anywhere in the world to participate. The event provides free compute credits, enabling participants to train models and run inference without personal cost. The goal is to encourage the creation of new and exciting applications within the generative AI space. The hackathon emphasizes a 'weekend sprint' approach, encouraging participants to build, iterate, and ship a functional project within a focused timeframe from October 9–12, 2026. While the core building period is a weekend, the overall event runs longer, providing ample opportunity for engagement, learning, and collaboration. Community engagement is fostered through a Discord hub for communication and collaboration, with workshops and key ceremonies hosted on Zoom. The event aims to bring together over 500 builders to explore the frontiers of generative AI.

What to build

Participants must build creative AI tools, fine-tune image and diffusion models, or ship surprising AI-powered projects related to generative AI and image creation. Projects can fall into three main tracks: Image Generation (e.g., text-to-image, inpainting, style transfer), Model Fine-tuning (e.g., LoRA, DreamBooth, ControlNet adapters), and Creative Tools (e.g., AI-assisted apps, prompt UIs, workflows).

Prizes

Key dates

• Hacking begins (Weekend Sprint)October 9, 2026
• Hacking ends (Weekend Sprint)October 12, 2026
• Event end dateOctober 16, 2026

How to enter

1. Register for free at https://bananahacks.tech.

Sponsors & partners

Resources

• Discord Community Hub