Vibeathon 2026

Overview

Get ready for VIBEATHON 2026, an Open Innovation Hackathon designed to challenge your creativity, technical skills, adaptability, and real-world problem-solving ability.

Unlike conventional hackathons where projects are built entirely from scratch, VIBEATHON 2026 allows teams to bring pre-developed projects. The real challenge begins during the offline round, where shortlisted teams will receive a new challenge and must implement it within a fixed time limit.

Bring your ideas. Bring your project. Take on the challenge.

Theme: Open Innovation

There is no restriction on the domain, problem statement, or technology stack.

Participants are free to work on innovative solutions in any area, including but not limited to:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Web and Mobile Applications
• IoT and Embedded Systems
• Cybersecurity
• Blockchain and Web3
• FinTech
• HealthTech
• EdTech
• Smart Cities
• Sustainability
• Automation
• Social Impact
• Any other innovative technology domain

Team and Eligibility

• Team Size: 2–4 members
• Eligibility: Open to everyone
• No educational, age, branch, college, or experience restrictions
• Participants can form teams of 2–4 members
• Cross-college and cross-domain teams are welcome

Hackathon Structure

VIBEATHON 2026 will be conducted in three stages.

Stage 1 – Online Evaluation Round

- Date: 26 September 2026 (Tentative)

All registered teams will participate in the online evaluation round.

Teams will present their project online through Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. The shortlisted teams will be selected based on this round.

Top 15 teams will advance to the offline hackathon.

Stage 2 – Offline Hackathon

• Date: 10 October 2026
• Venue: A.C. Patil College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

The Top 15 shortlisted teams will participate in the offline hackathon.

Pre-developed Projects Allowed

Teams are allowed to bring their pre-developed projects to the offline round. However, the main challenge begins during the offline hackathon.

Mentor Challenge

During the offline hackathon, mentors will provide each team with a challenge/task that they must implement in their existing project. Teams will need to understand the challenge, plan their approach, implement the required changes, test their solution, and demonstrate the result. The same fixed amount of time will be provided to all 15 teams to complete the challenge.

Stage 3 – Final Presentation and Judging

After completing the implementation challenge, teams will proceed to the final round. Each team will present and demonstrate their project, including the implementation of the assigned challenge, before a panel of judges. The final winners will be decided based on the team's overall performance across the hackathon stages.

12-Hour Offline Hackathon

The offline hackathon will be conducted as an intensive 12-hour challenge.

Teams will be required to:

• Understand the assigned challenge
• Plan their approach
• Implement the required changes
• Test their solution
• Demonstrate the completed implementation
• Present their project to the judges

The same challenge conditions and time limit will be provided to all participating teams to ensure fairness.

Guidelines and Rules

• VIBEATHON 2026 follows an Open Innovation format.
• Teams are free to choose their problem statement, domain, and technology.
• Pre-developed projects are allowed in the offline round.
• Each team must consist of 2–4 members.
• There are no educational, age, branch, college, or experience restrictions.
• All registered teams will participate in the online evaluation round.
• Only the Top 15 teams will advance to the offline round.
• Shortlisted teams must be physically present at the designated venue for the offline round.
• Teams will receive an implementation challenge from the mentors during the offline hackathon.
• The same fixed time limit will be provided to all teams for completing the challenge.
• Teams must complete and demonstrate their implementation within the allotted time.
• Participants are responsible for bringing their own laptops, software, development environment, and other required equipment.
• Participants must ensure that their projects and submissions do not violate third-party intellectual property rights.
• Plagiarism, unfair practices, or misrepresentation may result in disqualification.
• Any attempt to gain an unfair advantage may result in disqualification.
• The decision of the judges and organizing committee regarding evaluation and winners will be final and binding.

Registration Details

• Registration Fee: ₹500 per team
• Team Size: 2–4 members
• Registration Deadline: 23 September 2026
• Eligibility: Open to everyone

Prize Pool

Prize Pool: ₹25,000+

The prize pool is tentative and subject to change. Final prize details will be announced by the organizing team.

Important Dates

• Registration Deadline: 23 September 2026
• Online Evaluation Round: 26 September 2026 (Tentative)
• Top 15 Shortlist: After Online Evaluation
• Offline Hackathon: 10 October 2026
• Offline Hackathon Duration: 12 Hours
• Final Presentation and Judging: During Offline Hackathon
• Winner Announcement: At the conclusion of the event

Certificates

• All participating teams will receive a certificate of participation.
• The Top 15 shortlisted teams will receive a special certificate recognizing their achievement and qualification for the offline round.
• Winners will receive certificates as part of the final recognition.