The AI Coding Hackathon November 2026 — four tracks, your team, one weekend. Learn from the best, code with state-of-the-art tools, present your results.
What is the Hackathon?
The AI Coding Hackathon is the most intensive way to bring AI-assisted development from theory into practice. You choose a track, form a team and build a working AI prototype together — with real data, modern tools like Claude Code, Cursor, n8n and Base44, and direct support from experienced mentors.
What you need
What you get in return ↓
Programme
48 hours non-stop — workshops, mentor sessions, hacking and demo pitches.
24/7 access — you can work through the night at STARTPLATZ.
Main Sponsor
Base44 is the main sponsor of the AI Coding Hackathon November 2026 — and provides the prizes for the best teams. The platform for AI-assisted prototyping is part of the hackathon curriculum.
Prizes
We will announce the categories here by the end of October.
Judging
On Sunday, more than 30 teams pitch in front of the jury and the audience. These four criteria decide.
How new is the approach? We look at whether an idea tackles a problem differently from what already exists — not at how complicated it is built.
What actually runs after 48 hours? A working core counts for more than a long feature list that only exists on slides.
Who is the prototype built for? A clear use case and a realistic next step after the weekend count for more than a broad promise.
You have a few minutes in the Sunday demo. Show clearly what you built — a live demo convinces more than a description.
Sponsoring
The AI Coding Hackathon reaches 130 AI builders, developers and founders from the DACH region — up close, over a full weekend. As a sponsor you reach a highly motivated, tech-savvy audience right at the source.
Whether as a track sponsor with your own thematic focus or as an overall sponsor of the series — reach out, we'll find the right format.
Become a sponsor — get in touchTickets
130 spots. Limited. Here's how booking works.
There is one registration — not separate ticket links. Register below and you'll be redirected to our secure checkout (Stripe). Students are eligible for special rates — ask us for the code and enter it there. Without a code you pay the standard price.
No ticket budget? Become a volunteer.
As a volunteer you're in for free and support us with setup, breakdown and running the event. Apply via the link — we'll get back to you.
Apply as volunteerAll prices excl. VAT
Getting there
Im Mediapark 5, 3rd floor, Cologne/Bonn room
50670 Cologne, Germany
Friday 4:30 PM – Sunday 4:00 PM
🚇 S-Bahn Hansaring · Bus 140 Christophstraße/Mediapark
🚗 Media Park parking garage available
FAQ
Since 2024, teams have been building prototypes in 48 hours at STARTPLATZ Cologne. Here are the previous hackathons.
