By participating in CodeFest 2026, all attendees agree to abide by the following rules, eligibility requirements, and code of conduct.

• Student Status: CodeFest 2026 is open to any student currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or community college program.

• Team Size: Teams may consist of 1 to 5 members.

• Team Registration: Teams must submit their official roster via the Team Signup Form by Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 12:30 PM EST. Roster modifications after this deadline require explicit organizer approval.

• First-Time Hacker Track Eligibility: To qualify for beginner/newbie tracks, a strict majority of your team must never have submitted a project to a hackathon prior to CodeFest 2026:

  • Teams of 1–2: 100% must be first-time hackers.

  • Teams of 3: At least 2 members must be first-time hackers.

  • Teams of 4: At least 3 members must be first-time hackers.

  • Teams of 5: At least 4 members must be first-time hackers.

• Fresh Work Only: All projects must be started from scratch during the hacking period. You may not build upon pre-existing codebases or present projects started prior to the event kickoff.

• AI Tool Usage: Generative AI assistance tools (e.g., ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot) are permitted, but must be explicitly disclosed in your Devpost submission write-up.

• Open Source & APIs: You may utilize public APIs, open-source libraries, and third-party frameworks, provided they are publicly accessible and properly credited.

• Ethics & Safety: Projects must comply with legal standards. Solutions containing malware, harmful scripts, or unethical tracking will result in immediate disqualification.

All teams must submit their project on Devpost by Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.

A complete submission must include:

1. Devpost Details: Title, description, inspiration, technical stack, challenges, and future potential.

2. Source Code Link: Public GitHub repository or accessible Google Drive link containing the source code.

3. Presentation Deck: A public Google Drive link to a PDF slide deck.

4. Video Pitch: A 3–5 minute video demonstration covering the problem, solution, tech stack, and a working demo.

• Venue Location: Classroom Wing 3rd Floor, Binghamton University.

• Overnight Policy: All participants must vacate the Classroom Wing by 11:00 PM on Saturday, October 24. Staying overnight in the building is strictly prohibited. Doors re-open at 10:30 AM on Sunday, October 25.

• Mandatory Attendance: Teams must attend the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony to remain eligible for prizes.

CodeFest 2026 is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion.

• Treat all participants, organizers, sponsors, venue staff, and mentors with respect and courtesy.

• Collaborate with integrity—academic dishonesty, code plagiarism, and intellectual property theft are strictly prohibited.

• Keep all shared hackathon spaces clean and follow all Binghamton University campus regulations.

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Offensive verbal or written comments related to personal characteristics or identity.

• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.

• Sustained disruption of talks, workshops, or event proceedings.

• Inappropriate or non-consensual physical contact, or unwelcome sexual attention.

• Use of sexualized, discriminatory, or offensive language/images in project demos or presentation slides.

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in immediate warning, project disqualification, removal from the venue, and ban from future events.

If you experience or witness harassment, or have any safety concerns, please contact an organizer immediately:

• Discord: Message any @ColorStackBU organizer.

• Campus Emergency: (607) 777-2393

• University Police: (607) 777-2222