AdaHack 2026

⌖ Edinburgh · Edinburgh Futures Institute, The University of Edinburgh

Hosted by Traveltech

University of Edinburgh students can spend a full day solving real-world festival challenges at this collaborative arts, culture and technology hackathon. Taking place on Friday 30 October 2026, from 9am to 5pm, the in-person event brings innovators, artists, developers, designers and festival enthusiasts together at the Edinburgh Futures Institute in Edinburgh. What to expect Festival partners will provide challenge prompts based on pressing issues faced by the Edinburgh Festivals. Participants will form multidisciplinary teams, combine their different perspectives and develop creative solutions designed to enhance the festival experience. The programme also includes insights from festival organisers and data visualisation leaders, covering challenges, opportunities and emerging directions across cultural events. Projects may explore how technology can help festivals reach wider audiences, strengthen their communities and make a more positive environmental impact. No specific technical experience requirement is stated; coders, designers and arts enthusiasts are all encouraged to contribute. Practical details: - Room 2.55, Floor 2, Edinburgh Futures Institute - 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EF - Eight-hour, in-person format - Food and refreshments provided - Organised by Traveltech Get tickets for the hackathon

⌖ London · Bush House, KCL

Hosted by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Women in STEM and UCL Women in STEM

IKU Womxn in STEM Hackathon brings female and non-binary university students to central London for a free, beginner-friendly 24-hour build weekend. Taking place 17–18 October 2026 at Bush House on King’s College London’s Strand Campus, this cross-university hackathon creates a supportive setting in which participants can develop technical skills, meet peers and turn an idea into a working project. It is organised by KCL Womxn in STEM, Imperial Women in SET and UCL Women in STEM. Build, learn and find your community IKU was designed to make hackathons more accessible to gender-minority students in technology. Attendees will work in teams of typically two to four, supported by workshops, talks and mentorship from experienced developers. You can arrive with friends or attend solo and form a team on the day. The event welcomes female and non-binary students aged 18 or over from any UK university. All experience levels are encouraged, including complete beginners and students outside Computer Science. A dedicated Best Beginner side track recognises eligible teams where at least half of the members come from non-CS-adjacent backgrounds. Over the weekend, participants can expect: - 24 hours of focused project building, from first line of code to final demo - Practical workshops, technical talks and mentor support - Mini-events and opportunities to connect across King’s, UCL and Imperial - Sponsor networking, prizes and a completed project to add to a CV - Judging followed by a closing ceremony Project work begins after Saturday’s opening ceremony, with hacking running from 11:00 on 17 October until the 12:00 submission deadline on 18 October. Judging starts at 13:00, followed by the closing ceremony at 15:00 and the event finishing at 16:00. Participants may go home overnight, remain awake or use the dedicated sleeping and quiet rooms at Bush House. Cost, venue and support IKU is completely free, with meals, snacks and swag included. Attendees should bring a laptop, charger and any other equipment required for their build; those staying overnight are advised to bring comfortable items such as a pillow, blanket or hoodie. Travel reimbursement is not available.… Register for this event

Sponsors: Wise · incident.io

⌖ Amsterdam · Amsterdam RAI

Hosted by LabLab AI

Build and showcase real-world AI applications at this two-day, in-person hackathon, held at Amsterdam RAI on 19–20 October 2026 alongside a major tech expo. The TechEx Amsterdam Hackathon, organised by LabLab AI, brings developers, engineers, founders and technical teams together for two focused days of building, collaboration and live demos. Running from 9am to 6pm each day in Amsterdam, the hackathon takes place alongside AI & Big Data Expo Europe, giving participants the chance to present practical work in front of a large enterprise technology audience. What you’ll build Teams will create AI agents, cybersecurity tools and enterprise solutions across a broad range of tracks: - Artificial intelligence and machine learning, including generative technologies - Cybersecurity and cloud solutions focused on resilience, governance and operations - IoT and connected systems involving devices, sensors and intelligent infrastructure - Edge computing that brings intelligence closer to users and devices - Intelligent automation and robotics for workflows, augmented teams and autonomous operations - Digital transformation tools for modernising processes and decision-making - Data infrastructure, analytics, accessibility and operational intelligence - Physical AI, including robotics and systems that perceive, reason and act in the physical world Format and experience Day one, 19 October, is Build Day, with hands-on development, team collaboration, mentorship and technical guidance. Day two, 20 October, centres on demos and awards, with selected teams invited to present their projects live on stage. The programme also includes panels and talks from industry experts. Pawel Czech, CEO of NativelyAI and founder of lablab.ai, is listed as a speaker. This event is designed for AI engineers and developers creating production-ready applications, founders exploring enterprise AI products, and builders working with agents, automation or data systems. LabLab AI describes itself as a global platform connecting more than 300,000 developers and having delivered over 100 hackathons worldwide.… Register for this event

Sponsors: TechEx Europe

⌖ Mexico City · AI LAB SCHOOL

Hosted by AI LAB SCHOOL

AI Hackathon México 2026 es una competición online de cinco días para convertir ideas de IA generativa en soluciones de negocio reales, con hasta $1,000,000 MXN en premios. Del 19 al 23 de octubre de 2026, AI Lab School reunirá a programadores, desarrolladores, diseñadores, creativos y emprendedores para trabajar intensivamente en productos aplicables al mercado. La actividad comienza a las 17:00, hora de Mexico City, y se desarrolla íntegramente online, lo que permite participar desde cualquier ubicación. El reto de 2026 La temática central será “Negocios impulsados por IA Generativa”. Los equipos deberán crear una solución basada en inteligencia artificial generativa que pueda aplicarse a una industria o sector. Habrá tres vías de participación: - Dos challenges patrocinados por empresas líderes. - Un challenge libre, donde cada equipo podrá proponer y construir su propia solución. El formato está diseñado para ir más allá de una idea conceptual. Durante cinco días, los participantes colaborarán para desarrollar una propuesta funcional, definir su aplicación comercial y preparar una presentación final. Al cierre del hackathon, cada equipo defenderá su proyecto mediante un pitch ante un panel de jueces expertos. Cómo funciona La experiencia comienza con la formación de equipos. Si ya cuentas con compañeros, puedes participar con tu grupo; si te registras individualmente, la organización te ayudará a incorporarte a un equipo. Esto abre la competición tanto a perfiles técnicos como a personas con experiencia en diseño, creatividad, producto o negocio. La dinámica prevista incluye: 1. Formación de los equipos participantes. 2. Elección de uno de los tres challenges. 3. Cinco días de desarrollo de una solución con IA generativa. 4. Pitch final ante el jurado. 5. Reconocimiento de los tres primeros lugares con premios en efectivo y en especie. Una experiencia de construcción y conexión… Register for this event

⌖ Cardiff · NatWest Accelerator

Hosted by AI Wales

Build an AI prototype for better UK insurance research at this one-day hackathon in Cardiff on 20 October 2026. Consumers increasingly ask tools such as ChatGPT about insurance before approaching a broker, insurer or comparison site. Those answers can sound convincing while being outdated, based on the US market or shaped by a poorly framed prompt. Hosted by AI Wales, this practical hackathon invites participants to explore how AI could provide more accurate, useful and trustworthy insurance information. The challenge Based on findings from the Future Finance Research Sprint, teams can tackle one or more of three core problems: - Answer quality often depends on how a consumer prompts the LLM. - LLMs may lack current, accurate and UK-specific insurance information. - Consumers can arrive at insurers and comparison sites with assumptions already shaped by AI. Your concept might help people ask better questions, assess the answers they receive, identify gaps in their understanding or make a more effective handover to a broker, insurer or comparison service. Solutions should work with AI tools people already use, protect consumer privacy and avoid crossing into regulated financial advice. Participants can review the full challenge brief before the event. What you’ll build The goal is either a working prototype or a strong concept with the potential to make a real difference for consumers. Attendees can use Lovable to turn an idea into an app, with 100 free credits supplied to every participant, including solo entrants. Sign-up details for the credits will be shared on the day. No development or insurance expertise is required. The event is designed for mixed teams of developers, designers, product professionals, insurance and finance specialists, students and anyone curious about AI. Enter alone, bring a team of up to four or find collaborators at the venue. View the event and registration details

LovableChatGPT

Sponsors: Future Finance · FinTech Wales +2

⌖ Manchester · Pariser Building

Hosted by Young Manchester

A free green economy hackathon for 16–25-year-olds, taking place at the Pariser Building in Manchester on 21 October 2026. Organised by Young Manchester through W Youth, in partnership with Kraken and Green Economy North, this in-person event offers a practical introduction to green jobs, sustainability, net zero and green technology. It is open to young people across Greater Manchester and surrounding areas, whether they are in school, college, university or training, or currently outside education and training. No previous green-sector experience is required. What to expect - Meet and network with local businesses working in green tech, sustainability and net zero - Develop a new idea alongside business leaders in an optional hackathon challenge - Pitch your idea to a panel of experts in a Dragon’s Den-style session - See live demonstrations of electric vehicle charging and eco heat-pump technology - Connect with Young Manchester’s youth ambassadors and discover local opportunities - Enjoy free food, live music and entertainment The event runs from 4pm to 7:30pm, beginning with a welcome before a session on discovering the green economy. Panel members and speakers are still to be announced. The venue is fully accessible, and Young Manchester may be able to help with travel costs where cost is a barrier, request support when signing up. Get free tickets

Sponsors: Kraken · Green Economy