Technica 2026

Get ready to make waves on October 17–18!
Technica returns with this year's theme:
"Dare to Dive!"
This fall, we're inviting you to leave the shoreline behind and plunge into a weekend where curiosity runs deep, ideas surface from the unknown, and your boldest projects come up for air. This is your chance to explore new depths and see just how far your imagination can swim!
Technica is a safe harbor. The ocean of possibilities is endless, and wherever the current takes you, the journey you'll embark on can lead you to a whole new world of opportunity!
Join us in person at The College Park Marriott or virtually on Gather.
For more information on our sponsors, weekend-of schedule, or general updates, please visit gotechnica.org.

Requirements
Requirements:
You may submit your project to a
maximum of 3 challenges
, excluding a
maximum of 3 sponsored
challenges. Your project
may only win one challenge
, excluding sponsored challenges.
If at least one of your team members is a virtual hacker, your team must attend Expo through our virtual space Gather and demo what you built to be eligible for prizes. If you're not able to demo live during Expo on Sunday afternoon (starting at 1:00 pm EST), you can attend Expo through our virtual space Gather as well. If you win and live within the continental United States, your prize will be shipped to you. If you live elsewhere, you will receive an e-gift card of the equivalent cash amount. Either way, winners will be announced at closing ceremony (starting at 4:00 pm EST), so be sure to stick around!
Submissions are only valid if worked on within the 24-hour hacking period at Technica (from noon on Saturday, October 17, 2026 until noon on Sunday, October 18, 2026). We
do not accept cross-submissions from other hackathons and your Technica project may
not
be cross-submitted to other hackathons.
Your hack will be judged on these requirements:
1. Adherence to Technica's Mission
(How does the project support an inclusive tech community? Does it consider accessibility, representation, user safety, empowerment, or other design choices that reflect Technica’s mission? This evaluates the project itself, not the identities of team members.)
2. UI/UX Design
(How visually appealing and user-friendly is the interface/experience?)
3. Functionality & Execution
(Does the project work as intended?)
4. Originality & Creativity
(How creative is the idea or its execution?)
5. Adherence to Category
(How well does the project align with the category?)

Judging Criteria
Adherence to Technica's Mission
How does the project support an inclusive tech community? Does it consider accessibility, representation, user safety, empowerment, or other design choices that reflect Technica’s mission? This evaluates the project itself, not the identity of the team.
UI/UX Design
How visually appealing and user-friendly is the interface/experience?
Functionality & Execution
Does the project work as intended?
Originality & Creativity
How creative is the idea or its execution?
Adherence to Category
How well does the project align with the category?