AMD x GPU MODE - E2E Model Speedrun
Hackathon Overview
Join the GPU MODE Hackathon, sponsored by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.), and push the boundaries of large language model (LLM) inference performance on leading open models—optimized for AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPUs.
This global, two-phase performance optimization challenge invites developers, researchers, and teams to showcase their expertise in GPU kernels and end-to-end inference optimization, competing for $1,100,000 in total cash prizes.
Phase 1: Qualifiers
(March 6, 2026, 9AM PST – March 30, 2026, 11:59PM PST)
Participants will optimize three critical GPU kernels, including MXFP4 MoE, MLA Decode, and MXFP4 GEMM. Teams will be ranked on a public leaderboard based on performance metrics defined in the official rules. The top 10 individuals or teams will advance to the Finals.
Phase 2: Finals
(March 31, 2026, 9AM PST – May 11, 2026, 11:59PM PST)
Finalists will focus on end-to-end inference optimization of selected LLM workloads, including DeepSeek-R1 and GPT-OSS, with the goal of achieving breakthrough performance on standardized LLM inference benchmarks using AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPUs.
The competition will conclude with an awards ceremony on May 18, featuring senior AMD leadership and recognition of the top-performing teams.
$1.1 Million Total Cash Prize Pool
Following the qualifiers, finalists will compete for the $1,100,000 total cash prize pool across two independent tracks, each focused on a specific model and inference stack. Finalists may compete in one or both tracks.
Track 1: DeepSeek-R1-0528
🥇 1st Place: $650,000
🥈 2nd Place: $30,000
🥉 3rd Place: $20,000
Track 2. GPT-OSS-120B
🥇 1st Place: $350,000
🥈 2nd Place: $30,000
🥉 3rd Place: $20,000
Winners may be invited to attend a special awards ceremony, however, attendance is not required to receive prizes.
All prizes, eligibility requirements, scoring methodology, evaluation criteria, and payment terms are governed by the Official Rules and Terms & Conditions. Participants are responsible for reviewing this document prior to submission.
How to Participate
Registration: Register through this page by Mar 30, 2026, 11:30 PM PST to be eligible to win prizes.
Eligibility: Open to individuals or teams of up to three (3) members. See Official Rules for full eligibility requirements.
AMD Developer Program: Join AMD Developer program through this link.
Reference Kernels for the Qualifiers: Reference kernels for the Stage 1 qualifiers are available here.
Community & Support: Join the GPU MODE Discord, and visit the amd-competition channel for announcements, technical discussions, Q&A, and support throughout the competition.
Submission Process: Qualifier submissions must be made using the Popcorn CLI in accordance with the technical requirements and submission guidelines. Setup instructions are available here:
👉 https://github.com/gpu-mode/popcorn-cli
Additional Resources
For learning resources, check out and subscribe to GPU MODE YouTube channel, where you can find weekly lectures from top voices in the ML community.
Terms & Conditions
Participation and prize eligibility in this contest is subject to the official rules, terms, and conditions. By registering, participants acknowledge that they agree to the Terms and Conditions outlined in the below document.
🔗 View Rules and T&C