Zurich Hub - Hack Nation Global AI Hackathon
about this event
Kick off your fall semester by building something that matters 🚀 Secure your spot at the Zurich Hub for the 7th Global AI Hackathon, October 3–4, 2026 — a weekend for ambitious builders who want to meet exceptional peers, tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges, and turn bold ideas into real ventures.
Build, prototype, and pitch in just 24 hours, with feedback from mentors and judges whose backgrounds include OpenAI, Meta, Apple, and leading AI startups.
What's in it for you? 💰 $30K+ in cash prizes and API credits across approximately 6–8 AI challenges. 🛠️ $200K+ in AI tools and credits available to participating teams. 🚀 An invitation for the top 1% of teams to join our Venture Lab and continue incubating their startups after the hackathon. 🧠 The opportunity to meet and build alongside Zurich students, researchers, engineers, designers, and founders.
No idea or team required. Come ready to build—challenge tracks will be provided.
Agenda: October 3, 11:00 AM ET: Local kick-off in Zurich. October 4, 9:00 AM ET: Project submission deadline. 9:30–11:00 AM ET: Local pitches in Zurich. October 8, Finalists notified. October 10, 12:00–1:00 PM ET: Finalist pitches and award ceremony (virtual).
Spots in Zurich are limited and application-only. No walk-ins. Hosted with the MIT Club of Northern California, MIT Club of Germany, and Hack-Nation. Previous partners and sponsors have included OpenAI, Databricks, Lovable, ElevenLabs, and more. Learn more: hack-nation.ai
tracks
AI Challenges
Approximately 6–8 AI challenges with $30K+ in cash prizes and API credits available across them.
when
Local kick-off in Zurich
Local kick-off in Zurich
Project submission deadline
Project submission deadline
Local pitches in Zurich
Local pitches in Zurich
tickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Application | Free | Free | Available | Spots in Zurich are limited and application-only. No walk-ins. |
prizes
| # | PRIZE | price |
|---|---|---|
| Across 6–8 Challenges | Cash prizes and API credits | $30,000+ |
| All participating teams | AI tools and credits | $200,000+ |
| Top 1% of teams | Invitation to the Venture Lab for continued startup incubation | TBA |