Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- LUMA
- Deadline
- 9/28/2026
In short
The LUMA Hackathon is an online competition for students aged 13-18, taking place from September 20th to September 28th, 2026. Participants will develop a functional project like an app, website, or software tool to solve a real-world problem. Submissions require a 5-minute video demonstration, and top projects will advance to live finals. All participants are guaranteed to win subscription prizes.
LUMA Hackathon (September 20th - 28th)
By LUMA
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 9/28/202612 days left
Subscription prizes guaranteed for all participants.
Prizes
Open to students aged 13-18.
Eligibility
Online hackathon with a focus on Machine Learning/AI.
Format
Teams of 1-5 members permitted.
Team Size
Submission requires a 5-minute video demonstration.
Submission Format
Overview
The LUMA Hackathon is an online technical sprint designed for students, where participants will execute a functional project such as an app, website, or software tool. The goal is to address a real-world problem through code. The hackathon runs from September 20th to September 28th, 2026, with a submission deadline on the final day. Participants are required to submit a 5-minute video demonstration of their project. This video should cover the problem being addressed, a walkthrough of the codebase and architecture, a live demo of the project's functionality, and an explanation of its scalability. Submissions made before the official start date will not be considered. The competition features two rounds. In Round 1, projects are submitted via the video demonstration. For Round 2, the top technical projects will be selected to advance to Live Finals. Finalists will perform a live demonstration of their code for a panel of judges and engage in a real-time Q&A session to defend their technical logic and architecture. This hackathon is open to students aged 13 to 18 and accommodates teams of 1 to 5 members. All participants are guaranteed to win subscription prizes, with 1,000 winners receiving sponsorship subscriptions. The event is labeled as Beginner Friendly and focuses on Machine Learning/AI and Open Ended projects.
What to build
A functional project like an app, website, or software tool that solves a real-world problem through code. Projects should demonstrate technical execution, innovation, good user experience, and a realistic business model.
Prizes
All Participants
1,000 winners will receive sponsorship subscriptions.
Subscription prizes
Key dates
- Competition StartSeptember 20, 2026
- Submission DeadlineSeptember 28, 2026 @ 5:00pm EDT
Eligibility
Ages 13 to 18 only. Students only. Companies/professional organizations excluded from participation. All countries/territories, excluding standard exceptions.
How to enter
- Join the hackathon through the Devpost platform.
- Develop a functional project.
- Submit a 5-minute video demonstration of your project by the deadline.
Submission requirements
- Submit a 5-minute video demonstration covering: The Problem, The Build, The Demo, and Scalability.
Judging criteria
- Technical Execution (25%): Clean, efficient, and well-documented code; project functionality; strong grasp of tech stack.
- Innovation & UX (25%): Original or clever idea; intuitive interface; seamless user flow.
- Business & Finance (25%): Realistic business model; revenue streams; clear path to financial sustainability.
- Communication (25%): Deep understanding of product, technical architecture, and target consumers demonstrated in video and live Q&A.