Opportunity brief
Qiskit Fall Fest 2026 x IIIT Delhi
One Week. One Quantum Journey. Endless Possibilities.
About the Event:
- Quantica, under CQT at IIIT Delhi, presents Qiskit Fall Fest 2026; a week-long celebration of quantum computing featuring a beginner-friendly learning track, an online quantum hackathon, and an in-person quantum research showcase.
- Whether you're taking your first steps into quantum computing or already working on quantum research and applications, this festival gives you the opportunity to learn, build, experiment, and showcase your work.
- Total Prize Pool: ₹35,000
- Participation: Free
- Event Dates: 9–16 October 2026
- IIIT Delhi + Online
What's Happening?
The festival brings together four major experiences.
1. Quantum & Qiskit 101:
New to quantum computing? Start here! Join a beginner-friendly introduction to Qiskit and quantum computing, with hands-on learning and an opportunity to run programs on a real IBM quantum computer. No prior quantum computing experience is required. Learn the fundamentals of quantum computing. Get hands-on experience with Qiskit. Run your first quantum program. Explore quantum computing through practical examples. Prepare for the hackathon
2. The Quantum Hackathon:
BUILD • EXPERIMENT • SOLVE Teams of 2–4 participants will choose one of three quantum computing tracks. Each track comes with a ready-made tutorial and challenges designed for different experience levels, making the hackathon accessible to participants with varying levels of quantum computing experience.
Track 1: Quantum Chemistry: From Bonds to Qubits. Explore how a molecule's energy changes as its bond stretches, and then tackle the same problem using fewer quantum resources.
Track 2: Quantum Optimization: Smarter Choices at Scale. Use a quantum optimization algorithm to choose the best set of stocks, then scale the problem up.
Track 3: Quantum Simulation: Dynamics Under Noise Simulate the time evolution of a chain of tiny magnets, then correct for noise on real quantum hardware.
3. Qiskit Quest (Solo Beginner Track):
LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE • GET CERTIFIED. Prefer to work individually? Qiskit Quest is a guided, self-paced track designed for solo participants and beginners who want to build quantum skills without joining a hackathon team. Complete self-paced, auto-graded learning modules. Master quantum fundamentals at your own speed. No prior experience needed. Earn an official certificate of completion
4. Research Poster Showcase:
PRESENT • NETWORK • WIN
Open to individual students and researchers looking to present their work in quantum or quantum-adjacent fields. Showcase your project, connect with peers, and compete for prizes during our hybrid finale. Present quantum projects or research to faculty and industry judges. Participate individually or in research teams. Compete for both Judged and People's Choice awards. Abstract submission deadline: October 12
Abstract Submission:
- Deadline: Monday, 12th October Submission Link: https://forms.gle/rgKxqRfH7mL6qLVg6 (Click Here)
Poster Showcase:
- 16 October
- 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- IIIT Delhi
Awards:
- Judged Prize: Recognizing outstanding quantum research.
- People's Choice: An audience-selected favorite.
Event Timeline:
9 OCT - Quantum & Qiskit 101:
- Friday | 2:00–4:00 PM | Online
- Hands-on Qiskit introduction + real IBM quantum computer run + hackathon briefing.
10 OCT - Hackathon Kickoff:
- Saturday | 10:00 AM | Online
- Challenges released and tutorials begin.
11–14 OCT - Build & Explore:
- Online
- Work on your chosen hackathon challenge, experiment with quantum computing, and develop your solution.
- Hackathon submission closes: 14 October, midnight
15 OCT - Judging Day (Online):
- Judges evaluate the submitted hackathon solutions and select the finalists.
16 OCT - The Finale:
- Friday | 2:00–6:00 PM | In Person (Offline) | IIIT Delhi
- Research poster showcase
- Hackathon finalist presentations
- One team per track
- Awards & finale
New to Quantum?
- Don't worry!
- Participants who are new to quantum computing can explore Qiskit Quest - the Beginner Track, featuring self-paced, auto-graded modules designed for beginners.
- Complete the set of paths and earn a certificate while building your quantum computing fundamentals.
Who Can Participate?
- The event is designed for students and enthusiasts interested in exploring quantum computing.
You can participate if you are:
- A beginner interested in learning quantum computing
- A student with prior quantum computing experience
- Working on a quantum computing research/project
- Interested in quantum algorithms, simulation, optimization, or chemistry
- Looking to experiment with Qiskit and quantum hardware
- No prior quantum computing experience is required for the beginner track.
- For the hackathon, participants will compete in teams of 1–4 members.
Why Participate?
- Learn quantum computing from the fundamentals
- Get hands-on experience with Qiskit
- Explore real quantum computing applications
- Solve challenging quantum problems
- Showcase your quantum research
- Collaborate with other quantum enthusiasts
- Compete for a share of the ₹35,000 prize pool
- Earn a certificate through the beginner Qiskit Quest track
- Connect with students and researchers interested in quantum computing
Event Highlights:
- Quantum & Qiskit 101
- Online Quantum Hackathon
- Three Quantum Tracks
- Research Poster Showcase
- ₹35,000 Prize Pool
- Beginner-Friendly Learning Track
- Real IBM Quantum Computer Experience
- Free Participation
Ready to Enter the Quantum World?
- From your first qubit to your final showcase, experience one week of learning, building, experimenting, and exploring the possibilities of quantum computing.
- Build. Experiment. Solve.
- Join Qiskit Fall Fest 2026 at IIIT Delhi, organized by Qunatica under CQT.
- Your quantum journey starts here.