OCT 18, 2026
64-HOUR INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPETITION
BIG IDEAS,
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
natHacks challenges hundreds of students and recent grads to design, build, and pitch creative solutions.
November 6-9, 2026 | In-person | Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering 8th Floor, University of Alberta
NATHACKS AT A GLANCE
HOW IT WORKS
Choose how you want to take part, then turn an idea into something real.
Choose
Standard Division: form your team. Problem Provider Division: get matched to a real-world challenge.
Get Ready
Learn from live workshops and panel discussions, meet other participants, and connect with your team.
Build
Spend 64 hours designing, building, and testing your idea with mentors and specialized equipment.
Pitch
Present to a multidisciplinary judging panel and compete for seed funding and project support resources.
CHOOSE A DIRECTION
2026 THEMES
Choose a theme, find a problem that matters to you, and build a solution.
Healthcare & Accessibility
Health, independence, accessible design, assistive technology, diagnostics, rehabilitation, and patient support.
Defense & Security
Cybersecurity, emergency response, resilient systems, remote sensing, privacy, infrastructure, and public safety.
Construction & Manufacturing
Automation, worker safety, quality control, robotics, monitoring, materials, supply chains, and predictive maintenance.
< PICK A THEME / FRAME A PROBLEM / BUILD A PROTOTYPE >
PREPARE BEFORE THE CLOCK STARTS
LEARN. BUILD.
TRY SOMETHING NEW.
Join us at the University of Alberta on October 23 and 30 for live, in-person workshops designed to help you prepare for natHacks.
WORkshop topics may include:
NATHACKS In action
REAL PEOPLE.
REAL PROJECTS.
See what natHacks looks like: teams building together, learning, and sharing what they made.
TAKE YOUR PROJECT FURTHER
THE WEEKEND IS
JUST THE START.
Winning teams receive reimbursement-based seed funding, guidance, and resources to keep building after natHacks.
Seed Funding
Prototype, test, and validate.
Mentorship
Product and market guidance.
Business + Legal
Strategy, IP, and formation.
Technical Resources
Cloud, tools, and infrastructure.
2026 PRIZE BREAKDOWN
SEE WHATS
UP FOR GRABS.
Standard Division
3 winners — one per theme
1st Place
$4,000 Value
$2,000 seed + $2,000 in-kind
3 winners — one per theme
2nd Place
$2,000 Value
$1,000 seed + $1,000 in-kind
3 winners — one per theme
3rd Place
$1,000 Value
$500 seed + $500 in-kind
Problem Provider Division
1st Place
$4,000 Value
$2,000 seed + $2,000 in-kind
2nd Place
$2,000 Value
$1,000 seed + $1,000 in-kind
3rd Place
$1,000 Value
$500 seed + $500 in-kind
THE DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
-
natHacks 2026 will take place from November 6-9, 2026.
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natHacks 2026 will be hosted in person at the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering at the University of Alberta.
Address: 9211 116 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9
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Participants may be high school students, undergraduates, graduates, and recent graduates from any background, including life sciences, computer science, engineering, design, social sciences, business, and health sciences. Please note that you must be at least 16 years of age to participate.
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Participation in natHacks 2026 requires a partially refundable $50 deposit, consisting of a:
$25 non-refundable program fee. This program fee covers the cost of the following:
Meals, snacks, and coffee throughout the hackathon,
Access to hacking space,
NAT merchandise.
$25 refundable deposit, returned to you after you participate in the competition. This helps us make sure everyone who signs up contributes meaningfully to their team.
-
No! We welcome participants from diverse backgrounds and skill levels. We provide hands-on training and mentorship, so you’ll learn what you need along the way.
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Make sure to bring your laptop, charger and any other required tech. If you are 18+ and interested in staying at the venue overnight, you will find it helpful to bring along key items you would bring to a sleepover: pillows, blanket, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, earphones, etc.
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The final application deadline for natHacks 2026 is Oct 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM MT.
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In Problem Provider division, NAT organizers will match you with a team based on your skills and the challenges you express interest in.
For Standard division hackers, there will be opportunities for willing participants to look for, make, or join a team before and at the hackathon. This includes the natHacks Discord, which you will be invited to upon acceptance, and in person on November 6.
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In the Problem Provider division, teams are matched with a challenge based on their skills and interests.
For Standard Division hackers, a good recommendation for coming up with ideas is to think about annoyances in your everyday life that you could potentially solve. Talk to your friends and family to help you! You can also ask NAT organizers for ideas.
Still have questions? Check the natHacks 2026 FAQ.
COMMUNITY-POWERED
THANK YOU TO
OUR PARTNERS.
natHacks is made possible by organizations that support youth, technology, and innovation.
IN THEIR WORDS
WHAT PARTICIPANTS
SAY.
Fun experience meeting new people and learning from others. The entire experience was a lot of fun from building a working prototype of our project to presenting it to judges. Super fun and would definitely do it again.
It was fun as my group synergized really well. It was fun brainstorming a new idea and working together to create it, as well as meet so many new people in the process.
I think overall it was a wonderful experience, and even though it was very challenging at times, it pushed me both within the 4 days, and motivates me to learn new things outside of the challenge.
MORE WAYS TO JOIN
FIND YOUR ROLE AT NATHACKS
Volunteer
Help deliver natHacks by supporting participants, event logistics, and on-site activities.
Learn More →Become a Problem Provider
Bring a real-world challenge for participants to explore and help guide teams as they develop their solutions.
Learn More →Become an Advisor
Share your expertise with teams and provide feedback throughout the competition.
Learn More →Become a Judge
Evaluate final projects and help recognize the strongest solutions across each competition theme.
Learn More →WHAT WILL YOU BUILD
IN 64 HOURS?
Applications close October 18.
