Hackathons for students (2026)
These hackathons are open to college students: undergraduate and postgraduate, from any branch. They are the fastest way to build a portfolio, learn a new stack and get noticed by recruiters.
Most are free and online, so you can take part from your hostel. Every team that submits gets a certificate, and many offer internships or PPOs to winners.
Open and upcoming
ML Challenge Hack4Hack 2026
A two-round machine-learning challenge. A 24-hour Round 1 starts when the problem statement and dataset go live on 22 Oct; the top 100 get a new problem and dataset for 3 days.
Datathon by Hack4Hack · Online · ₹1L in prizes · Free · Registration closes 20 Oct 2026
AgentX Hackathon 2026
Build AI agents that get real work done. 24 hours, online. Free to register.
Hackathon by Hack4Hack · Online · ₹3.75L in prizes · Free · Registration closes 30 Oct 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can first-year students join hackathons?
Yes, unless the hackathon page says otherwise. Start with an online hackathon or an ideathon, and team up with seniors if you can.
Can non-CSE students take part?
Yes. Teams need designers, researchers and presenters as well as coders, and many problem statements come from other fields like healthcare, agriculture and finance.
Will I get a certificate?
Every team that submits a project gets a participation certificate when the hackathon ends, and winners get a certificate of achievement. Some organizers add their own certificates too.
Can I join without a team?
Yes. Register and tick “I don’t have a full team yet” to list your team under Find a team, or ask to join a team that is looking for members. Some hackathons also allow solo entries.