Hack for Earth at unDavos
Hack for Earth x unDavos 2026
Spirit of Action: From Dialogue to Doing
Dates: January 16-19, 2026
Opening Ceremony: Livestreamed from Stockholm, 6PM CET January 16
Closing Ceremony: Livestreamed from Stockholm, 2PM January 18
Award Ceremony: Live from Davos, January 19th 4PM CET (during WEF week)
Hack for Earth joins forces with unDavos to create a first-of-its-kind global initiative that connects citizen action with global leadership.
Every January, the world turns its eyes to Davos — but participation remains exclusive, limited to those who can afford to be there. In 2026, we are changing that — together.
This hackathon is powered by BuilderBase and delivered in partnership with WePlanet, Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, TEELABS Korea, International Organisation of Youth and The Park.
Introducing: Spirit of Action
A global online hackathon, January 16–18, 2026, taking place in the weekend before the World Economic Forum and unDavos 2026, inviting our 5000+ hackers worldwide from 125 countries.
The winning teams will present their solutions live from the unDavos stage to world leaders and participants in Davos — creating a historic moment where the citizens of the world speak directly to the global decision-makers.
The winning teams will join via video, and the jury members will be IRL from unDavos stage.
While Davos talks — we act.
Hackathon Structure: Dream – Hack – Build
Dream phase (December 2025 – January 11, 2026)
A global call for dreams invites people everywhere to share their ideas for how we can shape a better world together.
Dreams are categorized under five challenge categories inspired by the WEF 2026 theme, “A Spirit of Dialogue” and our hackathon challenge categories are :
Health
Food
Education
Space
Construction
The collected dreams make the foundation of the hackathon challenges that teams will work to solve. As a hacker you select one challenge category to work on during the hackathon, out of the five challenge categories Health, Education, Food, Construction or Space, and in every category there are three specific challenges to choose from:
🌍 HEALTH
How might we make high-quality healthcare accessible to every human being on Earth, regardless of income or geography?
How might we redesign healthcare systems to focus on prevention, mental well-being, and community care rather than only treating illness?
How might we use technology and nature together to create healthier lives while reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare?
🌱 FOOD
How might we ensure that every person on Earth has access to healthy, nutritious, and affordable food without destroying ecosystems?
How might we empower local communities and small farmers to become stewards of regenerative food systems?
How might we redesign the global food system so that food production heals the planet instead of harming it?
📚 EDUCATION
How might we transform education so that it teaches creativity, empathy, and critical thinking rather than only memorization?
How might we make lifelong, high-quality learning available to everyone, everywhere?
How might we educate future generations to become guardians of the planet rather than consumers of it?
🚀 SPACE
How might space technology be used to protect Earth — from climate change, disasters, and resource depletion?
How might space exploration help humanity better understand and respect the fragility of our home planet?
How might data from satellites and space systems empower communities to act on environmental and humanitarian challenges?
🏗️ CONSTRUCTION
How might we build cities and homes that are carbon-negative and in harmony with nature?
How might we create affordable, sustainable housing for everyone without exhausting Earth’s resources?
How might we redesign urban spaces so that they promote community, well-being, and environmental regeneration?
Hackathon online (January 16-18, 2026)
● Opening Ceremony livestreamed from Stockholm (Jan 16 at 6PM CET) to kick off the global hackathon, setting the tone for dialogue turned into action.
● Thousands of participants from around the world join online to turn dreams into prototypes — building tangible, actionable solutions for people and planet.
● Mentors (experts) from both unDavos and Hack for Earth networks guide teams through the process.
● Closing Ceremony (Jan 18 at 2PM CET) celebrates global creativity and announces the category winners.
Action & Build (January 23 and beyond)
● January 19 4PM CET: The winning teams are showcased live from unDavos venue in the Award Ceremony, with feedback from world leaders and attendees in Davos — bringing citizen innovation into the heart of global dialogue.
● Winners then enter the Hack for Earth Build Accelerator, where they receive mentorship, visibility, and support to scale their solutions through 2026.
Timeline Overview
Date
Milestone
Jan 16, 2026
6PM CET Opening Ceremony livestream from Stockholm
Jan 16–18, 2026
Online global hackathon
Jan 18, 2026
2PM CET Closing Ceremony and challenge category winners announcements
Jan 19, 2026
4PM CET Award Ceremony. Winners in the 5 challenge categories present live to the Jury from unDavos stage
Feb–Aug 2026
Build for Earth Accelerator for the five winning teams
Vision
In 2026, as world leaders gather in Davos to discuss “A Spirit of Dialogue,” citizens around the world will already have built the first wave of solutions — proof that action is what’s needed. While Davos talks — we act.
Spirit of Action will make history as the first citizen innovation platform to present live to world leaders at Davos — a moment where inclusivity, sustainability, and creativity reshape the global agenda.
Let’s build that bridge together.
Let’s make Spirit of Action the pulse of global collaboration — from Dialogue to Doing.
Warm regards,
Hack for Earth Team
Democratizing innovation for people and planet