Competition format & key facts
Organized detailsOverview
Registration is open worldwide for NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026, a free global hackathon on 14–15 November with hundreds of local events and a virtual Universal Event.
Complete competition details
The 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge will be held 14–15 November 2026. Registration is open now and remains open through the end of the hackathon on 15 November. Participants can join one of 450+ Local Events in person or virtually; people without a nearby Local Event can use the virtual Universal Event from anywhere in the world. The challenge welcomes all ages, skill levels and professional backgrounds to use NASA and 17 Space Agency Partners’ open data to address real-world Earth and space challenges. NASA’s official terms state that participation is completely free. Participants register individually and can then form or join teams. No cash-prize amount or travel benefit is claimed.
Eligibility requirements
Anyone with an interest in space and science may participate; 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 as specified in the official terms.
Tips for this competition
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Create or sign in to a NASA Space Apps account, register for the 2026 challenge and choose a Local Event or the virtual Universal Event.
- 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
Official NASA Space Apps pages verified registration-open status, 14–15 November 2026 dates, all-ages/all-backgrounds eligibility, 450+ local events, worldwide virtual Universal Event access, use of NASA plus 17 partner-agency data, and free participation. The official registration article states registration remains open through the end of the hackathon on 15 November; no exact cutoff time is encoded.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
NASA Space Apps Challenge — 2026 Registration ↗Browse current Job and Scholarship listings from NASA Space Apps Challenge — 2026 Registration →
