Geneva Hackathon 2026
Join forces to hack AI for good: 3 days tackling real challenges across workforce, health, energy, finance, and education, alongside humanitarian experts, sustainability leaders, AI engineers, business innovators, and beyond.
💡About
We are back with the 2nd edition of the Geneva AI Hackathon organized under the Swiss {ai} Weeks. It will be held at Giga Connectivity Centre across several tracks including: humanitarian action, mental health, youth and connectivity, and open source hardware solutions. Additional tracks are still being finalized. The event will bring interdisciplinary teams together to build working AI prototypes alongside the organizations who will actually use them.
The Geneva Hackathon also feeds directly into the roadmap for the 2027 Global AI Summit here in Geneva: the prototypes and results from this weekend will help shape the themes and conversations at that larger stage.
Nous voici pour la 2e édition du Hackathon IA de Genève, organisé dans le cadre des Swiss {ai} Weeks. L'événement se tiendra au Giga Connectivity Centre autour de plusieurs axes, notamment : l'action humanitaire, la santé mentale, la jeunesse et la connectivité, ainsi que les solutions matérielles open source. D'autres axes sont encore en cours de finalisation. L'événement réunira des équipes interdisciplinaires afin de développer des prototypes d'IA fonctionnels aux côtés des organisations qui les utiliseront concrètement.
Le Hackathon de Genève s'inscrit également dans la feuille de route du Sommet mondial de l'IA 2027, qui se tiendra à Genève : les prototypes et résultats de ce week-end contribueront à façonner les thèmes et discussions de cet événement d'envergure internationale.
🌍How can we create real-world impact?
Teams build hands-on AI across various tracks, working directly with partner organizations who bring real problems and real data to the table.
⚙️How It's Organized
Day 1 Team formation: Show up up without a fixed team or project; both come together on-site. The evening is spent forming teams and working through Challenge Framing with the partner organization behind each track, so you leave day one with a defined problem and a first rough idea. Coaches and technical experts are available throughout all three days for hands-on support, so you're never stuck without someone to ask.
Jour 1 : formation des équipes. Venez sans équipe ni projet fixe ; les deux se construisent sur place. La soirée est consacrée à la formation des équipes et au cadrage du défi (Challenge Framing) avec l'organisation partenaire de chaque axe, de sorte que vous terminiez la première journée avec un problème défini et une première ébauche d'idée. Des coachs et experts techniques sont disponibles tout au long des trois jours pour un accompagnement concret, afin que vous ne soyez jamais bloqué sans personne à qui vous adresser.
Day 2: Core build day. Prototyping, testing, and iterating, with a couple of short peer pitch check-ins built in so you get feedback before you've gone too far down the wrong path, and optional workshops on value proposition design and pitching available if you want the extra structure.
Jour 2 : journée de développement. Prototypage, tests et itérations, avec quelques courts points d'étape entre pairs intégrés au programme afin d'obtenir des retours avant de trop s'engager dans une mauvaise direction, ainsi que des ateliers optionnels sur la proposition de valeur et le pitch pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent un cadre supplémentaire.
Day 3 Showdown: Final polish of the prototype, and the event closes with pitches to a jury and an award ceremony early afternoon.
Jour 3 : finale. Dernière mise au point du prototype, puis l'événement se conclut par des pitchs devant un jury et une cérémonie de remise des prix en début d'après-midi.
What to expect:
🟥When: Friday, September 25, 4:00 PM to Sunday, September 27, 12:00 PM. 3 days non-stop (with optional night breaks)
(Quand : du vendredi 25 septembre, 16h00, au dimanche 27 septembre, 12h00. Trois jours de créativité non-stop)
🟥 Open to everyone: all backgrounds, skills, and experience levels are welcome.
(Ouvert à toutes et tous : tous parcours, compétences et niveaux d'expérience sont les bienvenus.)
🟥 Where: Giga Connectivity Centre/SDG Solutions Lab (Campus Biotech), Geneva.
(Où : Giga Connectivity Centre/SDG Solutions Lab (Campus Biotech), Genève.)
📩 Contact:
📝Registration
Register to get official updates and more details of the event. All registrations go through a short review before confirmation, and we'll email you as soon as your spot is secured.
Inscrivez-vous pour recevoir les informations officielles et les détails de l'événement. Chaque inscription fait l'objet d'une brève vérification avant confirmation, et vous recevrez un email dès que votre place sera confirmée.
📅2025 Recap
In September 2025, the first Geneva AI Hackathon was organized: over 60 participants, mentors, and experts working across 3 days at Campus Biotech's Giga facilities. Teams built alongside UNHCR, ONU Climat (UNFCCC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the University of Geneva, tackling real challenges at the intersection of technology, humanitarian action, and climate impact.
FAQ
Who can join?
Anyone 18+ from any background can join including coders, designers, strategists, policy thinkers, educators, students, and professionals.
How does registration work?
Once you register for the event, an automatic message will be sent to you with a questionnaire form. Once you fill out the form we will go through the approval process (conducted on a rolling basis starting 8 Sept).
Can I participate remotely?
No. The event is in-person only to maximize collaboration.
Can I join as an individual?
Yes! The majority of the participants are individuals. Teams will be formed on the day of the start of the Hackathon on 25 Sept.
Can we join as a team?
Yes! Make sure everyone on the team signs up individually so each of you can receive your ticket, and mention in the questionnaire.
Are travel expenses covered?
No. We do not provide for any transportation or accommodation expenses.
Can I join as an individual?
Yes! The majority of the participants are individuals. Teams will be formed on the day of the start of the Hackathon on 25 Sept.
Do you provide accommodation?
There are areas to rest within the venue. We highly recommend you bring your sleeping bag. There are also showers in the facility so please bring a towel.
Will a cafeteria or restaurants in the venue?
We will provide for meals during the event. There are also restaurants and supermarkets within a 5-15 min walk from the venue.
What should I bring?
Just bring your laptop, sleeping bag (if you plan to sleep at the venue), and your collaborative spirit!
Are there parking slots available?
There are no free parking around the venue.