Program guide
How to apply to IceHacks 2026
Free week-long online hackathon for high school students worldwide (8–15 Nov), run by the student nonprofit CodeStarters: build any working project, from websites and AI tools to hardware. Beginner-friendly; non-cash prizes only.
Step by step
- Check that you are eligibleThe published rules: Open to students; High school students of all skill levels, ages 13+; all countries except standard exceptions; organisations excluded.
- Gather the materialsYou will need: Work samples, Product demo video.
- Write the answersApply with links to things you have built; organisers want people who will ship something.
- Submit on the official pageApply through the official page (Devpost) before 15 November 2026, and keep the confirmation.
- Follow upNote when results are due. If the organiser invites questions, ask once, briefly, after the date has passed.
Timeline
- 28 days before the deadlineCheck fit and list the materialsRead the official page, confirm every eligibility rule and list what the application asks for.
- 21 days before the deadlineDraft the answers and documentsDraft each written answer and document from what you already have, citing real facts only.
- By 8 November 2026Review against the criteriaReread every answer against the published criteria, fill the gaps and check every upload.
- By 13 November 2026Submit and keep the confirmationSubmit before the last day; portals slow down near deadlines. Save the confirmation.
Questions you will meet, answered honestly
What have you built before?
Two or three links with a sentence each on your part in them.
Do you have a team?
Say so either way; many events help solo participants find a team.
What reviewers of hackathons look for
- Apply with links to things you have built; organisers want people who will ship something.
- Read the tracks and sponsor prizes in advance and pick one problem to aim for.
- Plan the demo: a short video and a clear readme often matter as much as the code.
How Onward Scout helps
This one is submitted on the organiser's own site, behind your login. Onward Scout prepares every answer and file in the form's order with one-tap copy, so submitting takes minutes; you mark it submitted when you're done.
Let Onward Scout prepare your IceHacks 2026 application
Get your application answers for this programme, drafted from your own documents in about two minutes. Free to start, no account needed. Every answer is drafted from your own documents with sources, and nothing is submitted without your tap.
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