March 27-29, 2026
Conestoga College, Waterloo Campus
Applications are now open!
CONHACKS 2026: SKY'S THE LIMIT
Welcome to ConHacks 2026, the annual 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 new to coding or a full-stack veteran, this is your platform to learn, build, and create.
Hacking Challenge: Open
No specific theme, build whatever you dream up!
WHY JOIN?
Beginner Friendly
Our "Starter Pack" workshops will get your environment set up in minutes and ready to code anything. Mentors will be available to help you glide through any problems.
Free Food & Swag
Participation gets you free food for the entire 36 hours (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and more). Plus ConHacks 2026 themed merch, stickers, etc.
Career Boost
Connect with fellow hackers, sponsors, mentors, and the CCS team. Get a project to display on your resume or portfolio.
Learn & Apply
Apply classroom concepts to real projects. Build, experiment, and learn by doing in a chill, lo-fi environment designed for flow state.
SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSOR
THE SCHEDULE
Mark your calendars. 36 Hours of Innovation.
There will be many fun activities throughout the event!
Friday, March 27
- 7:00 PM Doors Open & Check-In
- 7:30 PM Dinner
- 8:00 PM Opening Ceremony
- 8:30 PM Team Formation
- 9:00 PM HACKING BEGINS
- 9:30 PM Workshop 1: Beginner Workshop: Zero to Hero (Git, Python, Venv, Setup)
- 9:30 PM Workshop 2: Advanced Workshop: TBD
Saturday, March 28
- 9:00 AM Breakfast
- 11:00 AM Workshop 3: TBD
- 1:00 PM Lunch
- 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM Mentorship: Office Hours
- 4:00 PM Workshop 4: TBD
- 7:00 PM Dinner
- 8:00 PM Workshop: TBD
- 12:00 AM Midnight Snacks
Sunday, March 29
- 7:00 AM Breakfast
- 9:00 AM HACKING ENDS
- 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Judging Expo
- 11:00 AM Closing Ceremony & Awards
PRIZES ($3,000 CAD)
1st Place
$1,200 CAD
Split among team. Trophies. Certificate. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to CCS exec opportunities.
2nd Place
$800 CAD
Split among team. Certificate. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to CCS exec opportunities.
3rd Place
$400 CAD
Split among team. Certificate. Bragging rights. Free ticket to ConHacks 2027. Access to CCS exec opportunities.
CATEGORY PRIZES
Best Beginner Hack
$200 CAD
Outstanding project created entirely by a team of first-time hackers.
Best UI/UX
$200 CAD
Most intuitive design, seamless user flow, and superior visual polish.
Best Tech Complexity
$200 CAD
Most impressive code, algorithm, or backend engineering.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for judging and prizes, teams must adhere to:
- Devpost Submission: Project page created by Sunday, 9:00 AM.
- Code Repository: Public GitHub/GitLab link. Must be created after Fri 9 PM.
- Video Demo: Max 3 mins. Show what it does, problem solved, and importance.
- Project Description: Problem, solution, how you built it, challenges, what's next.
- Team Size: 1–4 people.
The Sky's the Limit. Web app, mobile app, hardware, game, terminal tool - if it solves a problem through software, it counts.
JUDGING
THE JUDGES
Anish Reddy
President, Conestoga Computing Society (CCS); AI Engineer, Geotab
TBD
To be announced
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To be announced
CRITERIA
- Technical Complexity (30%) Custom backend? Complex APIs? New stack? We want clean, functional, impressive engineering.
- Innovation & Creativity (30%) Unique idea? Pushing boundaries? Novel solutions?
- Design & Polish (20%) UX/UI matter. Is the design sleek, intuitive, and cohesive?
- The Pitch (20%) 3 minutes to sell your dream. Articulate the problem, solution, and impact. Demo is crucial.
RULES
Respect the Rules. Be Kind. Hack Fair.
- Code of Conduct: Strict adherence required. No harassment of any kind will be tolerated.
- Fresh Code Policy: All code must be written during the event (Fri 9 PM - Sun 9 AM). No pre-finished projects.
- Intellectual Property: You own what you build. CCS and ConHacks do not claim any rights.
- Team Size: Up to 4 members. Team formation session available.
- Venue Rules: Respect the campus. Clean up trash. Treat equipment with care.
FAQ
A hackathon is an event where people come together to build creative software or hardware projects in a short amount of time. It's not about "hacking" in the security sense—it's about rapid prototyping and innovation!
Not at all! ConHacks is beginner-friendly. We offer "Starter Pack" workshops to help you set up your environment and learn the basics. Mentors will be available throughout the event to guide you.
ConHacks is open to all college and university students. Whether you're studying computer science, business, design, or any other field, everyone is welcome!
You can come solo or with a team of up to 4 people. If you don't have a team, no worries! We'll have a team formation session on Friday night to help you find teammates.
Bring your laptop, charger, student ID, and any personal items you need for an overnight stay (toiletries, sleeping bag/blanket if you plan to rest). We provide food, drinks, WiFi, and power outlets!
Yes! ConHacks 2026 is completely free for all participants. We cover food, swag, and everything else.
MEET THE ORGANIZERS
Ready to join ConHacks 2026?
