☁️ ConHacks 2026: Sky's the Limit

Welcome to ConHacks 2026, the premier hackathon hosted by the Conestoga Computing Society (CCS). For 36 hours, we are turning the Waterloo Campus into a retro-futuristic dreamscape. Whether you are a "Hello World" beginner or a full-stack veteran, this is your platform to build, break, and deploy.

 

Hacking Challenge: Open (No specific theme, build whatever you dream up!)

  The Schedule

Mark your calendars. 36 Hours of Innovation.

Friday, March 27

  • 7:00 PM: Doors Open & Check-In

  • 8:00 PM: Opening Ceremony

  • 9:00 PM: Hacking Begins

  • 9:30 PM: Beginner Workshop: Zero to Hero (Git, Python, Venv, Setup)

Saturday, March 28

  • All Day: Hacking, Mini-Events, Workshops, and Mentorship

  • Midnight: Midnight Snack & Activity

Sunday, March 29

  • 9:00 AM: Hacking Ends (Submission Deadline)

  • 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Judging Expo

  • 11:00 AM: Closing Ceremony & Awards

  Why Join?

  • Beginner Friendly: Our "Starter Pack" workshops will get your environment set up in minutes and ready to code anything. Mentors will be avaiable at most times to help you glide through any problems.

  • Free Food & Swag: Participation will get you free food for the entire 36 hours including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. You will also receive ConHacks 2026 themed merch, stickers, and much more.

  • Career Boost: Connect with fellow hackers, sponsors, mentors, and the Conestoga Computing Association team. Get a project to display on your resume or portfolio.

  • Vibes: A chill, lo-fi aesthetic environment designed for flow state.

Requirements

To qualify for judging and prizes at ConHacks 2026, all teams must adhere to the following submission guidelines:

  1. Devpost Submission: You must create a project page on Devpost by Sunday, 9:00 AM.

  2. Code Repository: A link to a public GitHub (or GitLab) repository containing your project code.

    • Note: The repo must be created after hacking begins on Friday at 9 PM.

  3. Video Demo (Max 3 mins): A short video demonstrating your project in action. Show us what it does, what problem its solving, why its important, not just the code.

  4. Project Description: A brief text description of:

    • The problem your trying to solve.

    • What it does.

    • How you built it.

    • Challenges you ran into.

    • What's next for the project.

  5. Team Size: Teams of 1–4 people are allowed.

The Sky's the Limit. You can build a web app, a mobile app, a hardware hack, a game, a terminal based tool, etc. If it solves a problem through software, it counts.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

$CAD 3,000 in prizes
1st Place
$CAD 1,200 in cash
1 winner

$1,200 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. ConHacks 2026 Trophies. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to unique opportunities in exec positions of CCS and ConHacks in the future.

2nd Place
$CAD 800 in cash
1 winner

$800 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to unique opportunities in exec positions of CCS and ConHacks in the future.

3rd Place
$CAD 400 in cash
1 winner

$400 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to unique opportunities in exec positions of CCS and ConHacks in the future.

Best Beginner Hack
$CAD 200 in cash
1 winner

$200 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Awarded to the most outstanding project created entirely by a team of first-time hackers.

Best UI/UX
$CAD 200 in cash
1 winner

$200 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Awarded to the project with the most intuitive design, seamless user flow, and superior visual polish.

Best Technical Complexity
$CAD 200 in cash
1 winner

$200 CAD equivalent gift split among the team. Certificate of winning. Bragging rights. Awarded to the project with the most impressive code, algorithm, or backend engineering.

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Anish Reddy

Anish Reddy
President, Conestoga Computing Society (CCS); Intern, Geotab

Judging Criteria

  • Technical Complexity (30%)
    We are looking at the code, not just the concept. Did you build a custom backend? Did you integrate complex APIs? Did you challenge yourself to learn a new stack? We want to see clean, functional, and impressive engineering.
  • Innovation & Creativity (30%)
    Is this idea unique, or is it just another To-Do list app? We are looking for projects that push boundaries, solve problems in novel ways, or are simply fun and unexpected.
  • Design & Polish (20%)
    A great hack needs to look good and feel good. We are judging the User Experience (UX) and the User Interface (UI). Whether it’s retro-pixel art or modern minimalism, is the design sleek, intuitive, and cohesive?
  • The Pitch (20%)
    You have 3 minutes to sell us your dream. We are judging your ability to articulate the problem, the solution, and the potential impact. A working demo is crucial—show, don't just tell.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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Hackathon sponsors

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