Competition format & key facts
Organized detailsOverview
NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026 is a global in-person and virtual hackathon on 14–15 November, open to all ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds to build solutions using NASA and partner-agency open data.
Complete competition details
Registration is open for the 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge, held 14–15 November 2026 under the theme 'The Next Frontier'. Participants use NASA and 17 Space Agency Partners' open data to address real-world Earth and space challenges. NASA's official 26 August announcement says registration remains open through the end of the hackathon on 15 November. Participants select a Local Event, and the official terms describe the 2026 challenge as virtual and in-person.
Eligibility requirements
All ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds are welcome. Participants under 18 must be registered by a parent or legal guardian and accompanied during the event. U.S. Federal Government civil-service employees are not eligible to register as participants under the official terms.
Tips for this competition
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Study the scoring criteria and previous winners before deciding what evidence, prototype, essay, research or portfolio will best support the entry.
- Confirm country, age, team, education and organization restrictions and whether one person may enter multiple submissions.
- Follow the required file format, word/time limits and naming rules exactly; technical non-compliance can disqualify a strong entry.
- Keep proof of submission and submit before the deadline rather than relying on the final hour.
Verification notes
NASA and the official Space Apps site verify open registration, 14–15 November 2026 dates, global local-event structure, hybrid virtual/in-person format, broad participant eligibility, under-18 guardian requirements, and registration through 15 November. No cash prize, travel reimbursement or certificate is asserted.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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