About HackSussex 2026
This is an opportunity for students of all abilities to collaborate, learn new skills, and build something cool using technology. It's a great way for people with similar interests to work together on exciting projects in a fast-paced, creative environment. HackSussex 2026 is a fun and inclusive weekend-long event that invites participants to team up and build their own technology in just a short span of time. It's an incredible chance to meet like-minded individuals, develop your skills, and have a blast doing it.
- 24 Hours of project building
- Win exciting prizes
- Free swag
- Free Food and Drinks
- Workshops to learn skills
Code of Conduct
HackSussex 2026 is run in accordance with the MLH Code of Conduct.
Prizes
Grand Prize
DJI Neo Quadcopter + Accessories
[Hackathons UK] Best Use of AI Agents on Arm
Develop an innovative AI agent running on Arm hardware—from mobile devices to cloud servers! This challenge encourages leveraging LLMs, either on-device or via API, to create practical solutions. Show us the best use of AI agents on Arm and win a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W kit! Learn more at https://hackuk.org/arm
[Hackathons UK] Hackiest Hack
Build something over-the-top over engineered and held together with string. Use your imagination. Our favourite project will win Shark Plushes for each team member.
[MLH] Best Use of Gemini API
Google Swag Kits
It’s time to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI using Google Gemini. Check out the Gemini API to build AI-powered apps that make your friends say WHOA. So, what can Gemini do for your hackathon project?
Understand language like a human and build a chatbot that gives personalized advice
Analyze info like a supercomputer and create an app that summarizes complex research papers
Generate creative content like code, scripts, music, and more
Think of the possibilities… what will you build with the Google Gemini API this weekend?
[MLH] Best Use of ElevenLabs
Wireless Earbuds
Deploy natural, human-sounding audio with ElevenLabs. Create realistic, dynamic, and emotionally expressive voices for any project, from interactive AI companions to narrated stories and voice-enabled apps. ElevenLabs will empower you to build rich, immersive experiences without the need for actors or complex audio production, using simply the power of AI.
Integrate fully autonomous audio experiences into your hack with ElevenLabs and give your project a voice, along with giving your team the chance to win some wireless earbuds!
[MLH] Best Use of Solana
Ledger Nano S Plus
The world of development is evolving fast and Solana is leading the charge with a network built to handle all of your infrastructure needs. Forget high fees and slow confirmations, it’s time to build applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable.
Harness Solana's core advantages like blazing fast execution and near-zero transaction costs to make your hackathon ideas become real world projects. With Solana, the possibilities are endless.
Create a game, social app, or consumer product that relies on instant, high-frequency transactions.
Design a sophisticated trading, lending, or decentralized exchange (DEX).
Build a prototype for supply chain, identity, or payments that can handle massive, real-world volume.
Show us how you can innovate with Solana for a chance to win some cool prizes for you and each member of your team!
[MLH] Best Use of DigitalOcean
Retro Wireless Mouse
DigitalOcean offers a reliable and easy-to-use cloud platform for every stage of your project. Leverage core services like Droplets, Managed Databases, and App Platform to build, deploy, and scale your application effortlessly. Building with AI? DigitalOcean Gradient™ AI enables you to build, train, and deploy machine learning models, including access to GPU infrastructure and serverless inference!
Sign up for DigitalOcean today and get $200 worth of free credits that you can use towards building your next great hack. Build with DigitalOcean's robust cloud infrastructure for a chance to win some great prizes for you and each of your teammates!
[MLH] Best Use of Auth0
Wireless Headphones
Auth0 wants your applications to be secure! Why spend hours building features like social sign-in, Multi-Factor Authentication, and passwordless log-in when you can enable them through Auth0 straight out of the box? You can also secure your AI applications with Auth0 for AI Agents.
Auth0 is free to try, doesn’t require a credit card, and allows for up to 7,000 free active users and unlimited log-ins. Make your new account today and use any of the Auth0 APIs for a chance to win a pair of wireless headphones for you and each member of your team!
[HackSussex] Living Art
Best art or visuals in a project - Whether through a UI or new display method, this project demonstrates it’s ideas through amazing visuals.
Win an Electronic Sketch Pad!
[HackSussex] The definite non-software track
Best physical project utilising hardware to achieve a goal - This project doesn’t need a software engineer to head it’s development. Build a physical system out of whatever hardware you can find to achieve your goal.
Win a iFixit Screwdriver set!
[HackSussex] Go Touch Grass
Best Nature-themed project - This project took the theme of nature seriously and created something wonderfully involved with nature.
Win a JBL Outdoor Portable Speaker!
[HackSussex] Community Prize
Most Unique Idea - Whether this project was or wasn’t submitted for a track doesn’t matter. They started with a unique and amazing idea that you - not just the judges - loved.
Win some Lego Kits!
[Hastings Direct] Make claims fun and less stressful
Design a relaxing project that can make make insurance claims fun and less stressful.
Win £100 and a Fast Track Interview!
[CXI + AI] Design to Digital Accelerator
Make a project involving AI to accelerate Design to Digital.
Win a Fast Track Interview!
[Unity] Best game in Unity
Make a game using the Unity Game Engine.
Win some Unity Swag!
[BCS] Digital Accessibility
Create a project that enhances digital accessibility.
Win £125 split with your team!
[Sussex AI] Best Sussex AI
Best implementation of AI in either Legal applications, Medical applications or Neuromorphic Computing.
Find more information here: https://users.sussex.ac.uk/~tn41/sussexai_hacksussex2026/
Win a £25 Amazon Voucher each!
[London Gatwick] - Make gate waiting fun, relaxing and profitable.
Make a project that makes gate waiting areas less stressful, more interesting and fun, and create a commercial income.
Win Lego and Tour of Gatwick Airport!
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Charlotte Richardson
HackSussex - President
Holly Packer
Hackathons UK
Judging Criteria
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Creativity
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Functionality
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Learning
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Completeness
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Tell your friends
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