Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- Hack Club community
- Deadline
- 8/2/2026
In short
MarinHacks is a free, 12-hour hackathon for middle and high school students across the Bay Area to build projects, compete for Amazon gift cards, track-specific awards, and scholarships, and grow their STEM skills.
MarinHacks
By Hack Club community
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 8/2/2026Due today
August 2, 2026
Date
Marin Catholic JPII Student Center
Location
12 Hours
Hacking Duration
Middle & High School Students
Who Can Participate
Free
Admission Cost
Catered Food
Amenities
Overview
MarinHacks is Marin Catholic's inaugural hackathon, a free 12-hour event designed for middle and high school students across the Bay Area. Participants are encouraged to arrive with an idea and leave with a finished project, competing for various prizes alongside fellow builders. The event aims to introduce hackathon culture to Marin County and foster STEM interest within the community. The hackathon will feature a theme, which will be announced on the day of the event. Projects built must align with this theme. Catering, including lunch and dinner, will be provided to keep participants energized throughout the day. MarinHacks is inclusive of all skill levels, welcoming beginners as well as experienced hackers. Participants can work individually or form teams on the day of the event. The organizers emphasize learning valuable lessons through code collaboration and version control.
What to build
Participants must build projects around a revealed theme, which will be announced on the day of the event. Projects can include websites, software, or mobile applications. Hardware hacks are allowed but discouraged due to the short working time and the rule against pre-built hardware.
Prizes
Overall Winners
Visa gift cards
Hundreds of dollars
Track Winners
Hardware tech, AI credits, and swag
Undisclosed
All Participants
Chance of winning research program scholarships from YRI and VC grants; Tool access
Undisclosed
Key dates
- Check-inAugust 2, 2026, 8:00 AM
- Welcome PresentationAugust 2, 2026, 8:15 AM
- Theme Reveal & Hacking BeginsAugust 2, 2026, 8:30 AM
- Intro to Vibe Coding WorkshopAugust 2, 2026, 9:00 AM
- How to Hackathon WorkshopAugust 2, 2026, 9:30 AM
- Chess TournamentAugust 2, 2026, 10:00 AM
- LunchAugust 2, 2026, 12:00 PM
- Boba BreakAugust 2, 2026, 1:00 PM
- Submissions DueAugust 2, 2026, 6:00 PM
- DinnerAugust 2, 2026, 6:10 PM
- Judging BeginsAugust 2, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Geoguessr & TriviaAugust 2, 2026, 7:30 PM
- Closing Ceremony & Winners AnnouncedAugust 2, 2026, 8:00 PM
Eligibility
MarinHacks is open to high school students who are 18 or younger on August 2, 2026. Qualified middle school students may appeal once the application is available. All skill levels are welcomed, but a basic knowledge of programming and project management is recommended.
How to enter
- Apply for a spot through the provided application form.
- Bring a signed participant waiver to check-in on the day of the event.
- Submit your project by the submission deadline of 6:00 PM on August 2, 2026.
Submission requirements
- Participants must bring a portable laptop and charger.
- A signed participant waiver is required at check-in.
- Projects must relate to the theme announced at the opening ceremony.
Sponsors & partners
Bank of MarinMarin Sonoma Impact VenturesCoderPCBWayMarin ITCodeCraftersWolframArt of Problem SolvingHackPilotYRI Science.XYZMastra.ai
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can participate?
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MarinHacks is open to high school students who are 18 or younger on August 2nd, the day of the event. Qualified middle school students may appeal once the application is available. All skill levels are welcomed, though we recommend that you come in with a basic knowledge of programming and project management.
What should I bring?
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You should bring a portable laptop, charger, drinks, and snacks. Please do not bring anything too large, ex. External Monitors, 3D Printers. If you have any questions of what to bring, contact us through email or Discord.
Where is MarinHacks hosted?
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MarinHacks will be held at the Marin Catholic's John Paul II Student Center. A campus map is available.
Is there a theme?
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Yes, there is a theme and it will be revealed during the opening ceremony. All projects (even in different tracks) must relate to the theme.
Is it free to attend?
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Yes! MarinHacks is completely free to attend. We will provide catered meals, snacks, and all the resources you need to build your project.
Can I work alone or do I need a team?
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Yes you can work alone! However, we highly encourage you find and work with a team. You learn many valuable lessons through code collaboration and version control.
What kind of projects can I build?
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Anything! Websites, software, mobile apps, etc. Hardware Hacks are allowed, but are discouraged since no pre-built hardware projects are allowed and because of the short working time.
What are the prizes?
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Prizes are being decided at this current moment. For overall winners, expect hundreds of dollars worth of Visa gift cards and for track winners, expect hardware tech, AI credits, and swag. All participants will also have the chance of winning research program scholarships from YRI and VC grants.