Welcome to CodeFest 2026! 🚀

CodeFest 2026 is Binghamton University's premier hybrid hackathon bringing together creative minds, developers, designers, and problem solvers from college campuses everywhere!

Whether you are a seasoned hacker or writing your very first line of code, CodeFest offers an inclusive environment where you can learn new skills, build innovative projects from scratch, and connect with fellow students and industry sponsors.

🌟 What Makes CodeFest Special?

Beginner-Friendly: Never been to a hackathon? No problem! We feature a dedicated First-Time Hacker Track and newbie-friendly team rules to ensure beginners have a strong shot at winning.
Mentorship & Workshops: Learn hardware development, software engineering, and pitching strategies from experienced mentors and organizers.
World-Class Sponsors: Connect directly with representatives and recruiters from Bloomberg, Chobani, M&T Bank, Monster Energy, and Red Bull!
Open to All College Students: Attendance is open to any student currently enrolled in a university or community college.

💡 Theme: Tech for Tomorrow Build technical solutions that tackle pressing real-world issues, improving human experiences, protecting our planet, or strengthening modern technical infrastructure.

🗓️ Event Schedule All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Day 1: Saturday, October 24, 2026

11:00 AM — Participant Check-In Opens & Breakfast (Classroom Wing, 3rd Floor)
11:30 AM — Mandatory Opening Ceremony & Keynote Kickoff
12:00 PM — In-Person Team Matching Session
12:30 PM — Team Signup Deadline & Initial Check-In Closes
2:00 PM — Lunch
3:00 PM — Workshop: Hack Master with Jose Cruz
7:30 PM — Dinner & Continued Hacking
11:00 PM — Venue Closes for the Night (Participants must vacate building; off-site hacking allowed)

Day 2: Sunday, October 25, 2026

10:30 AM — Classroom Wing Venue Re-Opens
11:00 AM — Breakfast
2:00 PM — Lunch
6:00 PM — HARD SUBMISSION DEADLINE ON DEVPOST (No late entries accepted)
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM — Project Judging Session
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM — Closing Ceremony & Award Presentations

💬 Stay Connected

Discord: Join our official Discord server for real-time announcements, mentor support, and team formation.
Instagram: @colorstackbu

Requirements

Required Submission Assets

Project Details: Title, concise summary, inspiration, technical implementation, challenges faced, accomplishments, and future roadmap.
Source Code Link: Public GitHub repository or accessible Google Drive folder containing source code.
Presentation Deck: Public Google Drive link to a PDF slide deck containing:

Project title & team member names.
Problem statement & impact/value proposition.
Solution overview & architectural overview / screenshots.
Tech stack utilized.
Future potential & scalability.

Video Pitch (3–5 Minutes): Recorded demonstration covering problem, solution, tech stack, and a live working demo.
Track Selections: Select all eligible submission tracks within Devpost.