about this event
October 3-4, 2026 — University Center, University of Michigan-Dearborn. 24 Hours | In Person | Free to Attend.
Hack Dearborn returns for its fifth year with Hack Dearborn: Conjure Reality. That's 24 hours of building, learning, experimenting and turning imagination into something real.
Hosted by the Google Developer Group on Campus at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Hack Dearborn brings together hundreds of students, developers, designers, engineers, creators and first-time hackers for one weekend.
Whether this is your first time writing code or your tenth hackathon, Hack Dearborn is a place to experiment, meet new people, learn new technologies and create something you're proud of.
This year, we challenge hackers to Conjure Reality. Take an idea that exists only in your imagination and turn it into something people can see, experience, use or learn from.
Important: registration. You must apply through the official Hack Dearborn website to attend: hackdearborn.org/apply. Joining the event on Devpost does not register you for the in-person hackathon or guarantee you a place. Every member of your team must complete the official Hack Dearborn application and meet the eligibility requirements.
Prizes: 1st Place — Nintendo Switch 2; 2nd Place — Meta Quest 3S; 3rd Place — Bose QuietComfort Headphones; Shaping Society — Kodak PIXPRO FZ45; Enchanted Transit — Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3; Mindscapes — Fitbit Charge 6; Ideation Matrix — Wacom One S. There's also a raffle with more than 15 prizes, open to every hacker during the weekend.
Team size: teams can have 1 to 4 hackers. Come alone, bring a team or find teammates at Hack Dearborn. We'll set aside time before hacking begins for people looking for a team. Every team member must be registered individually and be eligible.
Sponsors — Gold: CDW. Silver: AMD, Astemo, BorgWarner, Bosch, Dell. Bronze: Consumers Energy, Ford, Rezzy, 365 Retail Markets. Friends: Incogni, LightGuide, NordPass, NordVPN, Saily, Coveron, TechSmith, Featherless, Pure Buttons, Atomic Object.
Questions? Email info@hackdearborn.org or join our Discord. More at hackdearborn.org.
tracks
Shaping Society
Technology for a more equitable, sustainable world. Develop solutions that improve access to healthcare, clean water, food security, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability or crisis response. Aim for practical, scalable solutions that put equity and long-term impact first.
Enchanted Transit
Intelligent systems that move across land, air and sea. Explore smart, connected transportation, from futuristic cars to advanced aircraft and connected transit, to make travel safer, faster and more efficient.
Mindscapes
Immersive experiences that redefine how we learn. Build tools and platforms that make education more effective, engaging and personalized, from AI-powered study aids and interactive apps to smarter classroom technology.
Ideation Matrix
The wildcard track. Conjure anything. This track is for ideas that defy categories: bold, unconventional projects that rethink what technology can do and blur the line between reality and imagination.
when
Hack Dearborn: Conjure Reality — Day 1
9:00 AM: Check-in and breakfast (RUC Hallway). 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Sponsor fair and professional headshots (RUC Hallway). 11:15 AM: Opening ceremony (Kochoff Hall). Attendance is mandatory. 12:00 PM: Hacking begins. 12:00 PM: Lunch (McKinley Cafe). 1:00 PM: Technical mentor tables (Kochoff Hall). 6:00 PM: GitHub workshop (RUC 1225). 7:00 PM: Dinner (McKinley Cafe). 8:00 PM: MLH Cup Stacking (RUC Stage). 11:00 PM: Building entry closes. No re-entry after 11 PM.
◍ University Center, University of Michigan-DearbornHack Dearborn: Conjure Reality — Day 2
12:00 AM: Register your team's project on Devpost by midnight. You can keep editing until noon. 12:00 AM: Midnight snack and game night. 8:00 AM: Breakfast (McKinley Cafe). 9:30 AM: MLH workshop: How to Demo (RUC 1225). 12:00 PM: Hacking ends. Devpost submissions lock. 12:00 PM: Lunch (McKinley Cafe). 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM: Judging expo (Kochoff Hall). 4:00 PM: Closing ceremony and awards (ELB Atrium).
◍ University Center, University of Michigan-Dearborntickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Free | None | Available | Free to attend. You must apply through the official Hack Dearborn website (hackdearborn.org/apply) to attend; joining on Devpost does not register you for the in-person hackathon. Every team member must complete the official application and meet the eligibility requirements. |
prizes
| # | PRIZE | price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Nintendo Switch 2 | TBA |
| 2nd Place | Meta Quest 3S | TBA |
| 3rd Place | Bose QuietComfort Headphones | TBA |
| Shaping Society Track | Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 | TBA |
| Enchanted Transit Track | Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 | TBA |
| Mindscapes Track | Fitbit Charge 6 | TBA |
| Ideation Matrix Track | Wacom One S | TBA |
| Raffle | More than 15 raffle prizes, open to every hacker during the weekend | TBA |