Registration is now open for the 2026 Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon. The annual competition challenges teams of Notre Dame undergraduate students to reimagine solutions to everyday problems.
This year’s theme is “Coding Pathways to Progress: Cultivating a Hopeful Future.” The event will take place at Hesburgh Library. Students from diverse academic backgrounds will gather over the course of a weekend (April 17-19) to strategize, share creative ideas, shape and execute projects and present solutions to a panel of judges and an audience of their peers.
2026 Event Information
During the event, students identify a challenge or need, design and build an innovative solution, and present their solution to a panel of judges. Teams showcase their projects in timed lightning talks and are evaluated on innovation, impact, usability, technical merit and presentation. The top projects garner awards.
- 1st Place – $3,000
- 2nd Place – $2,000
- 3rd Place – $1,000
- Honorable Mention(s) – $250
- People’s Choice Award – $100
Visit the Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon website for the schedule, team information, and tips for success. Grab a team of 2-4 friends and sign up before 6 p.m. Friday, April 17.
Students who are interested in participating should register today — seats are limited.
Need help putting together a team?
When you register, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the event Slack workspace. Use the #find-a-team channel to post a brief bio and connect with potential teammates.
2026 Hackathon Judges
Hackathon judges are selected from across campus to bring a wide range of skills and perspectives to the judging process. Judges are provided a rubric that assigns a weighted percentage to each category, which will be used to calculate each team’s final score. The 2026 Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon judges are:
- Erin Chambers, Snyder Family Mission Collegiate Professor of Computer Science
- Shreya Kumar, Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
- Matthew Morrison, Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
- Michael Runyon, Sr. Systems Engineer, Hesburgh Libraries
- Alexa Tuskey, Sr. Software Engineer, Hesburgh Libraries
Visit the Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon website for more information.
Click here to download the event poster.