ABOUT THE CHALLENGE

Hack_NCState is North Carolina State University's premier tech hackathon. This year, we are setting the scene with an Urban Noir theme. Think of it as a detective story, but instead of looking for clues, you are using technology to solve real-world problems.

Whether you are a seasoned developer or a complete beginner, join us for this exciting 24-hour competition where you will collaborate in teams of 2–4 to build projects from scratch. Participants will also have access to hands-on workshops, receive critical feedback from industry mentors, and network with a vibrant community of builders at NC State. Best of all, admission is open to all university students and is 100% free, complete with complimentary meals, t-shirts, and swag to keep you fueled.

Our hackathon operates in EST. All projects that are submitted through DevPost before the 11 AM deadline on February 15, 2026 and are eligible for tech prizes. All submitting teams will be eligible for corporate challenge prizes as determined by our sponsors.

February 14, 2026

9 AM Check In @ Outside State Ballroom/Talley Student Union
10 AM Opening Ceremony @ State Ballroom/Talley Student Union

February 15, 2026

11 AM Project Submission Deadline
4 PM Closing Ceremony @ State Ballroom/Talley Student Union

GET STARTED

Coding starts on February 14 (Saturday) at 11 AM EDT, at our kick-off event in State Ballroom/Talley Student Union. We will be hosting workshops, tech talks, and other activities throughout the event for participants to enjoy. All projects must be submitted online before February 15 (Sunday) at 11 AM EDT, but you can edit anything after submitting (before the deadline), so we encourage you to submit your products early and often.

During the event, participants will have access to https://today.hackncstate.org/ <TBA>.

====

Visit https://hackncstate.org/ for more information!