Microsoft Global Hackathon 2026 @NYU
The Microsoft Global Hackathon is a company-wide, multi-day event produced by The Garage that brings Microsoft employees from around the world together to create, innovate, and hack on ideas that inspire them. It's normally open only to Microsoft employees and interns.
This year, through the NYU Ethical Tech CoLab, anyone with a current, active affiliation with NYU during Fall 2026 (students, staff, faculty, administrators, and beyond) is eligible to apply. From that pool, a select group will be chosen to participate, building alongside Microsoft employees, in person or virtually.
Why this matters:
This is a rare chance to work inside one of the largest hackathons in the world, on the same platform and timeline as Microsoft's own teams. The 2026 event puts AI at the center: not just as a tool to build new solutions, but as a way to become a sharper innovator. You'll be encouraged to understand the customer, think bigger, and turn ideas into real impact.
A window into what the hackathon is really like:
Microsoft Global Hackathon 2026: Where MVP and RD Community Expertise Meets Innovation - its scale, the caliber of people who take part, and how the 2026 event is shaping up.
MVP & RD Impact at the 2025 Microsoft Global Hackathon - what past external participants actually worked on and took away from the experience.
Who should apply to attend:
You do not need to be an engineer or coder, and you do not need experience building anything to take part. The best hackathon teams are a mix of levels: experienced builders, first-timers still learning, and people who bring deep knowledge of a problem or domain but have never written a line of code.
If you understand a real problem worth solving and you're willing to be hands-on and jump into building with your team, there's a place for you here. We're intentionally looking for that mix. Domain expertise, curiosity, sharp thinking, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves count just as much as technical chops.
When:
Monday, Sept 14 — Tuesday, Sept 15
How to participate:
Virtually — from anywhere in the world
In person — NYC only. In-person participation is available exclusively in New York City; if you're not in NYC, you're welcome to join virtually.
This is a private, application-based opportunity. Spots are limited and offered to selected NYU members only. To apply, you'll be asked about your technical skills and domain expertise. Applications are reviewed, and you'll need to be approved before you can participate.
For any questions, reach out to ethical-tech-colab@nyu.edu.
*If you're an alum, former staff, or otherwise not currently enrolled or employed at NYU, you're not eligible for this particular event. We'd still love to stay connected: follow the Ethical Tech CoLab on LinkedIn to hear about future events open to you.