NGN Hacks 2026 — Free Online Hackathon, US$420 Prize Pool
A free, beginner-friendly online hackathon on Devpost running 7–9 August 2026, with an open-ended brief and a US$420 cash prize pool.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (9 Aug 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
NGN Hacks 2026 (short for Next Generation Hacks) is a fully remote hackathon that runs on the Devpost platform. The organisers have kept the brief deliberately wide: instead of tying entrants to one theme or one technology, the event invites people to build something they genuinely care about, with education and innovation as the broad area of interest.
The event is pitched at newcomers as much as at seasoned builders. You do not need to have taken part in a hackathon before, there is no entry fee, and participants can work on their own or join a team.
The hackathon takes place from 7 to 9 August 2026 and happens entirely online, so nothing about it depends on where you live — Indian participants are welcome alongside everyone else. Registration is free and stays open until the event finishes.
There is prize money on the line: a US$420 cash pool shared across first, second and third place plus a Best Use of SelfCAD award, with sponsor perks for the winners.
Highlights
- Free, fully online hackathon hosted on Devpost and running 7–9 August 2026.
- Open to all — students, hobbyists and first-time hackers; no prior hackathon experience needed.
- Open-ended brief: build any project, in any theme or technology, alone or in a team.
- US$420 total cash prize pool: US$300 first, US$50 second, US$20 third, plus US$50 for Best Use of SelfCAD.
- Winner perks include US$300 in Featherless AI credits, a US$50 Siemens package and a US$20 Mastercard giftcard.
- Registration is free and stays open until the event ends; the listed deadline is 9 August 2026.
Who can apply
NGN Hacks 2026 has one of the broadest eligibility windows you will come across — it welcomes participants from anywhere. The organisers have not published any restrictions on who may register.
- Students — school, college or university level — can enter.
- Hobbyists and self-taught builders are equally welcome.
- Aspiring developers who are still finding their feet can take part.
- Participants in India are explicitly included, and no geographic filter is mentioned.
- You may register on your own or as part of a team.
- There is no requirement to have competed in a hackathon before.
No DPIIT recognition, MSME/Udyam registration, company incorporation or similar paperwork is needed, because this is an open community hackathon rather than a government or investor-led scheme. No age, degree or sector bar has been mentioned either.
NGN Hacks 2026 — Free Online Hackathon, US$420 Prize Pool is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for NGN Hacks 2026 — Free Online Hackathon, US$420 Prize Pool closed on 9 Aug 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
NGN Hacks 2026 is a competition rather than a grant, loan or investment programme. That means award money never has to be repaid and no equity or ownership stake is taken in anyone's project.
Total cash prize pool: US$420, split across four awards:
- First place — US$300 cash, plus US$300 in Featherless AI credits as a sponsor perk.
- Second place — US$50 cash, plus a US$50 Siemens package.
- Third place — US$20 cash, plus a US$20 Mastercard giftcard.
- Best Use of SelfCAD — US$50 cash.
Additional sponsor perks are listed on the hackathon's prize page.
Beyond the prize list, everyone who participates gets something out of it: hands-on experience building a real project, keynote sessions featuring speakers such as a Y Combinator-backed founder and Mozilla's Chief Technology Officer, the freedom to enter solo or with a team, and a finished piece of work to show in a portfolio, on a CV or in a university application.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to NGN Hacks 2026 — Free Online Hackathon, US$420 Prize Pool, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is NGN Hacks 2026?
It is an online hackathon — the name stands for Next Generation Hacks — hosted on Devpost. The format is open-ended, which means you are free to build any project you are passionate about, with education and innovation as the general focus. It is designed so that complete beginners and experienced hackers can both take part, and it runs from 7 to 9 August 2026.
What is the deadline for NGN Hacks 2026?
The deadline shown for the event is 9 August 2026, which is also its closing day. Registration is free and stays open right up until the hackathon ends, so there is no separate early cutoff to worry about.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total cash prize pool is US$420. First place takes US$300, second place US$50 and third place US$20, while the Best Use of SelfCAD award carries another US$50. Winners also receive sponsor perks on top of the cash.
Who is eligible to participate in NGN Hacks 2026?
Everyone. No eligibility restrictions have been published: students, hobbyists and aspiring developers can all register, and people in India are explicitly welcome along with participants everywhere else. You can enter on your own or with a team, and you do not need to have done a hackathon before.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to take part?
No. This is an open hackathon, not a government funding scheme, so DPIIT recognition, MSME/Udyam registration, company incorporation and similar paperwork are not required. You simply register on the Devpost page like any other participant.
Can I compete as an individual, or do I need a team?
Both routes are allowed. You may build your project on your own or work alongside a team, whichever suits you better.
Is there a fixed theme or track I have to follow?
No. The hackathon is deliberately open-ended and projects may span any theme or technology — the only broad steer is a focus on education and innovation. Specific tracks and the exact judging criteria have not been detailed by the organisers.
Do winners have to give up equity or repay the prize money?
No. Because this is a competition rather than an investment or a loan, prize money does not have to be repaid and no equity stake in your project is taken.
What else do winners and participants receive?
On top of cash, the first-place winner gets US$300 in Featherless AI credits, second place gets a US$50 Siemens package, and third place gets a US$20 Mastercard giftcard; further sponsor perks are listed on the prize page. Everyone who takes part also leaves with hands-on experience, a finished project for a portfolio or CV, and access to keynote sessions from speakers such as a Y Combinator-backed founder and Mozilla's Chief Technology Officer.
How do I apply for NGN Hacks 2026?
Registration happens through the hackathon's Devpost listing at https://ngn-hacks-2026.devpost.com/. Signing up is free and remains open until the event ends on 9 August 2026.
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