Hacklanta '26

"Different Rhythm, Higher Stakes."

Hacklanta is back October 9 to 11 in Atlanta.

For 36 hours, more than 1,000 college builders from across the United States will come together at Georgia State University to turn ideas into working projects.

Expect festival energy, ambitious builds, workshops, mentor hours, sponsor challenges, live recruiting opportunities, and a room full of people ready to make something real.

Whether this is your first hackathon or your tenth, there is a place for you. Apply solo and find teammates after acceptance, or bring a team of up to four people.

Hacklanta is free for accepted participants.

What to Expect
  • A 36-hour, in-person building experience
  • Four main competition tracks and additional sponsor challenges
  • Workshops, panels, mentors, and technical support
  • A live sponsor fair and planned on-site recruiting opportunities
  • Festival-inspired programming, activities, and late-night energy
  • Builders from colleges and universities across the country

Important Registration Requirement

Registering on Devpost does not register you to participate in Hacklanta. Every participant must also complete the official Hacklanta application and registration process at hacklanta.dev.

This requirement applies even if you have already registered on Devpost.

Participants who do not register through hacklanta.dev will not be eligible to attend, participate, submit a project for judging, or receive a prize.

Each team member must complete their own official registration.

Get started
  1. Complete your participant application at hacklanta.dev
  2. Watch your email for an application decision and RSVP instructions.
  3. Join the Hacklanta Discord for announcements and team formation.
  4. Register on Devpost and review the competition tracks.
  5. Show up on Oct 9 and build something impossible to ignore.

Requirements

What to Build

Build an original, functional project during the official Hacklanta hacking period.

Projects may include software, hardware, artificial intelligence, developer tools, consumer products, financial technology, creative technology, or another technical build that fits an available track or challenge.

Open-source libraries, APIs, frameworks, AI tools, starter templates, and previously created general-purpose components are allowed. Teams must clearly disclose anything that existed before Hacklanta.

The substantial design, development, and integration of the submitted project must happen during the event.

Previously completed projects, projects submitted to another hackathon without substantial new work, and projects that misrepresent when or how they were built are not eligible.

What to Submit

Your Devpost submission must include:

  • A clear project title and description
  • The problem you are solving and who it serves
  • A complete team roster with no more than four people
  • The main track and any sponsor challenges you are entering
  • A public source-code repository with a useful README
  • A working demo link or clear instructions for running the project
  • A short demo video showing the project in action
  • The technologies, APIs, datasets, and sponsor tools used
  • A disclosure of anything created before Hacklanta
  • Any test credentials or special instructions judges need

All links must remain accessible throughout judging.

Every team member must be an accepted Hacklanta participant who completed the official application and registration process at hacklanta.dev.

Devpost registration by itself does not make a participant or submission eligible for judging.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$14,000+ in prizes
+ other prizes
1st Place Finishers
$2,500 in cash
4 winners

Prizes will be awarded to 1st Place finishers for each of our 4 main tracks

Sponsor Challenges
$800 in cash
5 winners

Winners of each sponsor challenge will receive special prizes related to the sponsor or challenge prompt

[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
1 winner

Wireless Earbuds

Give your hack a voice with ElevenLabs, from expressive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps.

Build with ElevenLabs: https://mlh.link/elevenlabs

[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
1 winner

MLH Swag Kits

Build with the Gemini API to create conversational assistants, summarize research, or generate code, music, and other content.

Build with Gemini: https://mlh.link/gemini

[MLH] Best Use of Solana
1 winner

SenseCAP Card Tracker

Use Solana's fast execution and low transaction costs to build games, social apps, financial tools, or payment systems.

Build with Solana: https://mlh.link/solana

[MLH] Best Use of Tiger Data
1 winner

Stream Deck Mini

Power real-time data and analytics with Tiger Data's PostgreSQL platform, combining familiar SQL, continuous aggregates, and efficient storage.

Build with Tiger Data: https://mlh.link/tigerdata

[MLH] Best Use of Vultr
1 winner

M5Stack Official Tab5

Deploy your project on Vultr using cloud compute or GPUs to support demanding applications and AI workloads.

Build with Vultr: https://mlh.link/vultr

[MLH] Best Use of Auth0
1 winner

Wireless Headphones

Secure your application with Auth0 APIs, including social sign-in, multifactor authentication, passwordless login, or protection for AI agents.

Build with Auth0: https://mlh.link/auth0

[MLH] Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
1 winner

Digital Gift Card

Register a domain through GoDaddy Registry and give your project a memorable home on the web.

Build with GoDaddy Registry: https://mlh.link/GoDaddyRegistry

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

TBA

TBA

Judging Criteria

  • TBA at Opening Ceremony

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Invite others to compete

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