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Summary

• Organiser: NASA
• Programme: NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026
• Format: Two-day global hackathon
• Dates: 14–15 November 2026
• Participation Fee: Free
• Registration Opens: 26 August 2026
• Location: Hundreds of local events worldwide + virtual participation
• Eligibility: All ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds
• Fields: Technology, science, engineering, design, arts, storytelling and more
• Teams: Participants can form teams with people from around the world
• Data: NASA and Space Agency Partner open data
• Awards: Local and Global Awards
• Certificate: Participants who submit a project receive a certificate
• Application Deadline: No final registration deadline has been published yet

About the Programme

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is NASA’s annual global hackathon and one of the world’s largest international hackathons.

The 2026 edition will take place on 14–15 November 2026, bringing together participants at local events around the world as well as through virtual participation.

The challenge is designed for people interested in using science, technology and creativity to solve real-world problems affecting Earth and space.

During the two-day event, teams work on challenges created by NASA subject-matter experts. Participants use NASA’s openly available data, together with data from NASA’s Space Agency Partners, to develop solutions.

The programme is deliberately multidisciplinary. NASA states that people from different backgrounds—including coders, scientists, entrepreneurs, designers, storytellers, artists, technologists, makers and builders—can participate.

Participants do not need to be professional programmers or scientists. The challenge selected by a team determines the skills that may be useful.

Scholarship Benefits

NASA Space Apps is not a scholarship and does not provide a salary or tuition funding. Participation itself is completely free.

The official programme provides participants with opportunities to:

• Work directly with NASA and Space Agency Partner open data.
• Solve real-world Earth and space challenges.
• Collaborate with international participants.
• Develop practical technical and creative skills.
• Work with NASA subject-matter experts and other mentors.
• Participate in local and global judging.
• Compete for Global Awards.
• Receive a participation certificate after submitting a project.
• Build connections with the wider NASA Space Apps community.

The experience can also support professional development through practical project work, collaboration and exposure to new skills.

Who Can Apply?

NASA states that all ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds are welcome.

The programme is suitable for participants interested in areas such as:

• Science
• Engineering
• Software development
• Data
• Technology
• Design
• Art
• Storytelling
• Entrepreneurship
• Space and Earth sciences

You do not need to already have a team before registering. NASA provides opportunities for participants to connect with others and form teams.

Participants under 18 must be registered by a parent or legal guardian and must be accompanied during the event by a parent or legal guardian.

There is one important eligibility restriction in the 2026 terms: participation cannot be connected to an affiliation with China or a Chinese-owned entity, including certain universities and organisations, regardless of the participant’s nationality.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Create a NASA Space Apps Account

Create an account on the official NASA Space Apps website.

Step 2: Register for the Challenge

Registration opens on 26 August 2026.

Participants must register for either a Local Event or the Universal Event before the hackathon begins.

Step 3: Choose a Local or Universal Event

Browse available locations and select the event you want to participate in. Local Events may be in-person, while the Universal Event provides a virtual participation option.

Step 4: Explore the Challenges

NASA will publish the 2026 Challenge Statements so participants can review the problems they may work on.

Step 5: Build or Join a Team

Participants can collaborate with other registered participants and form multidisciplinary teams.

Step 6: Participate in the Two-Day Hackathon

On 14–15 November, teams work on their selected challenge using NASA and partner data.

Step 7: Submit Your Project

Teams must submit their completed project through the official Space Apps platform according to the submission instructions and applicable deadline.

Projects must respond to an official NASA Space Apps Challenge to be eligible for Global Judging.

Step 8: Judging and Awards

Submitted projects are evaluated through the Space Apps judging process. Selected projects can progress toward Global Awards.

Important Deadline

Registration Opens: 26 August 2026

Hackathon: 14–15 November 2026

NASA has not yet published a final registration closing date on the official 2026 website.

NASA recommends completing registration for a Local Event or the Universal Event at least one to two weeks before the hackathon.

Participants should therefore register as soon as registration opens rather than waiting until the event period.

Related Opportunities

1. NASA Free Online Courses 2026

Free NASA Open Science training available online, including Open Science Essentials and Open Science 101.

2. NUS IRIS Internship 2027 in Singapore

A funded international research opportunity for undergraduate and Master’s students seeking practical research experience.

3. MITACS Globalink Internship 2027 in Canada

An international research internship opportunity for eligible students interested in research and innovation.

Official Application Link

Official NASA Space Apps Challenge:

Final Note from AK Travels LTD

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is different from a traditional scholarship or internship. It is a completely free global hackathon where participants work in teams to solve NASA-developed challenges using open data.

You do not need to be a professional programmer, scientist or engineer. NASA specifically welcomes participants of different ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds, including designers, artists, storytellers, entrepreneurs, technologists and other problem-solvers.

For 2026, registration opens on 26 August, while the global hackathon will take place on 14–15 November 2026.

Participants should register for a Local Event or the Universal Event, review the official challenges when available, form or join a team and prepare to work intensively during the two-day hackathon.

Projects submitted through the official process can be evaluated for local and global recognition. Participants who submit a project also receive a certificate recognizing their participation.

Most importantly, participation is free. There is no tuition fee or programme fee to join NASA Space Apps.

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