For participants

Please follow Discord for announcements; use #questions-and-answers or contact@hackkosice.com to contact organisers.

Wifi: Hack Kosice (no password)
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Useful links

⚡ Devpost 💬 Discord 🕒 Schedule 🗺️ Venue map ♣️ Code of Conduct

Announcements

FAQ for Attendees

Do I need a team to compete?

Yes, you need a team to submit a project. All teams must be of 2, 3 or 4 people.

Can I be a member of multiple teams?

No. Each attendee must be a member of exactly one team.

Can my team submit multiple projects/challenges?

Yes. Each team can submit multiple projects, and each project submission can be entered into multiple challenges.

However, each team can only solve each challenge with one project at most.

What are the judging criteria?

Originality: How innovative, creative and unique is the idea?
Expected impact: Can the project impact the lives of many people in a significant way? Would the intended user realistically use your solution?
Implementation complexity: How technically sophisticated, advanced and elegant is your solution? And how much of the journey of your idea have you managed to implement during the hackathon?
Presentation: How effectively and engagingly is the project communicated to the judges and audience during demoing and the final presentation?

Can my team present on stage?

Every team will present their project at their table during the demoing session.

Top 6 teams selected just after demoing will be called to present on stage! 🎤

How much time do we have for the presentation?

During demoing and stage presentations, your team has:

3-4 minutes for the presentation
2 minutes for questions by the judges

Join the largest Hackathon in Slovakia!

What?

Hack Kosice 2026 is Slovakia’s premier Hackathon, bringing together 150+ of the brightest minds for 24 hours of intense innovation, collaboration and competition. Join us for an unforgettable weekend of creativity and problem-solving.

Where?

Experience the vibrant city of Košice, Slovakia’s tech hub with a rich cultural heritage and a thriving innovation scene. The perfect setting to turn your groundbreaking ideas into reality.

Who?

Open to students, professionals and tech enthusiasts from around the world who are ready to push their limits, compete for amazing prizes and showcase their skills in creativity, innovation and technical excellence.

Travel guide 🧳

Before you pack your bags, take a moment to read our travel guide. It includes everything from how to get to Košice ✈️, where to stay 🛏️, and what to do 👀, to how to get around 🚌 and where to find the best food 🥘 and drinks 🍺.

Read the Travel Guide

What is Hack Kosice?

Slovakia’s largest hackathon — and one of Central Europe’s best.

18–19 April 2026
in Košice, Slovakia
attended by 150+ hackers, leading tech companies, experienced mentors

Open application

Event Timeline

Get a glimpse of what awaits you at Hack Kosice 2026. Detailed schedule will be announced closer to the event.

Registration & Check-in - Saturday, 9 am

Arrive at the venue and check in
Meet the organizing team & get settled at your table
Network with fellow hackers and sponsors

Opening Ceremony & Hacking Begins - Saturday, 10 am

Welcome address and event overview
Sponsors present their exciting challenges
Hacking officially begins — let your creativity flow!

Workshops, Activities & Food - All the time

Attend workshops led by industry professionals
Try out cutting-edge gadgets & participate in mini-challenges
Enjoy regular hot meals and unlimited snacks throughout

Project Submission & Demoing - Sunday, noon

Submit your final project on time
Present and demo your solution to judges and sponsors
Judges evaluate projects and select winners

Closing Ceremony & Awards - Sunday, 3 - 4 pm

Top projects are showcased on stage
Winners announced and prizes awarded
Celebrate your achievements and say goodbye!

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out our detailed competition rules or learn more about getting to Košice.

When does the application portal open?

The application portal will open in October 2025. Stay tuned to our social media channels and website for the exact date announcement!

I am not a student. Am I allowed to attend?

Yes! Following the success of previous years, Hack Kosice 2026 welcomes both students and professionals.

The only age requirement is that you must be 18 years or older at the time of the event (or have parental consent if under 18).

I will travel from abroad. Do you provide travel reimbursements?

Unfortunately, we do not provide travel reimbursement this year. However, we encourage international participants to apply anyway! Hack Kosice offers amazing experiences, networking opportunities, exciting prizes, and the chance to work on innovative projects with talented people from around the world.

Is Hack Kosice free to attend?

Absolutely! Participation is completely free for all invited hackers. We provide delicious food throughout the event, interesting workshops, entertaining activities, swag, and an unforgettable experience.

Will Hack Kosice be held in English?

Yes, the entire event including presentations, demoing, and workshops will be conducted in English. You should be comfortable communicating in English, however we do not require any language certificate or specific language level. The environment is welcoming and friendly towards English learners.

What if I want to take a nap?

We’ve got you covered! During the night, there will be a dedicated sleeping room where you can rest undisturbed. We recommend bringing a sleeping bag or blanket for maximum comfort.

Do I need a team to apply?

Not necessarily! While we encourage you to form a team before the event (it’s great if you already know your teammates), you can absolutely apply as an individual.

We’ll help you find teammates at the event during our team-finding session after the opening ceremony, where individuals and partial teams can pitch their ideas and connect with others.

Remember: Each project must be submitted by a team of 2-4 participants.

How large can teams be?

All teams must consist of 2, 3, or 4 people.

Each attendee must be a member of exactly one team at the Hackathon. You cannot work on multiple projects or be part of multiple teams.

I am under 18. Am I allowed to attend?

Yes, you can attend if you will be at least 16 years old at the time of the event.

However, if you are under 18 during the Hackathon, we will need your parent’s or legal guardian’s written consent. Once you confirm your invitation, we will send you a consent form to be signed and submitted at registration.

By hacking, do you refer to breaching security?

Definitely not! Hacking is a slang term for creative coding and building tech solutions.

From Wikipedia: “The word ‘Hackathon’ is a blend of the words ‘hack’ and ‘marathon’, where ‘hack’ is used in the sense of exploratory programming, not its alternate meaning as a reference to breaching computer security.”

What they said about past events

Previous Hack Kosice hackathons hosted many hackers, sponsors, partners and friends. Here is what some of them said about the event.

Hack Kosice 2023 was my first-ever hackathon experience, and it was amazing! In just 24 hours, I learned so much and had a lot of fun. The atmosphere at the event was fantastic, and I was delighted with the presence of traditional Slovak dishes like “pirohy” and “halušky”. I would love to come back next year and participate again. Thanks so much for organizing such a great event!

Doan Bach Ngoc

HK23 Attendee

Hack Kosice made me experience first-hand the power of collaboration in a diverse, aligned team. I would have never even thought of developing a multi-purpose app in one day by myself! That kind of self-validation pushes young scientists to take the initiative and found startups.

Angel

HK23 Attendee

Our experience during Hack Kosice 2022 was beyond our expectations. The mentors did awesome job polishing our ideas, and each challenge was interesting in different ways. The supply of great food and coffee was the cherry on top. We enjoyed “hacking” in Kunsthalle, and look forward to the next hackathon.

Marcel Hric

Visma challenge winner at HK22

I have attended more than 50 hackathons worldwide and Hack Kosice is among the best events I have been to. The event felt really well put together and the production quality was absolutely top notch.

Aaron

Major League Hacking

Hack Košice 2022 was an amazing event! We encountered a lot of talented engineers, and an amazing organizational team (and the quality was so great we still cannot believe it mostly consisted of students!). We’d witnessed and had been a part of some high-quality networking, great challenges, and a really, really great atmosphere.

Bloomreach

Previous Platinum sponsor

Our Sponsors

Meet the amazing organisations making Hack Kosice 2026 possible! Their support funds the prizes, food, workshops, and the entire experience you’re about to have.

Become a Sponsor