Date: November 6–8, 2026
Location: Turku, Finland
Type: Hackathon (72-hour sprint)
Website: sinceai.ai/hackathon
What Is Since AI Hackathon 2026?
The Since AI Hackathon 2026 is an official Major League Hacking (MLH) partner event taking place in Turku, Finland, from November 6 to November 8, 2026. This 72-hour sprint is designed to bring together more than 1,000 builders—developers, engineers, data scientists, and product-minded technologists—to tackle real industry challenges head-on. With a substantial €50,000 cash prize pool on the line, the event is structured around working demos only: no slide decks, no pitch decks, just functional prototypes that solve problems posed by some of the world’s leading industrial and technology companies.
The hackathon is organized under the Since AI banner, a platform focused on advancing applied artificial intelligence in the Nordic region. By partnering with MLH—the global standard for collegiate and professional hackathons—the event ensures a high-quality, well-structured competition environment. The 2026 edition marks a significant step for the Finnish AI ecosystem, positioning Turku as a hub for hands-on, results-oriented AI development. Unlike many conferences that prioritize talks and networking, Since AI Hackathon 2026 is built entirely around execution: participants are judged solely on what they can build and demonstrate in three days.
The event’s emphasis on industry collaboration sets it apart. Rather than working on abstract or open-ended problems, participants will address specific challenges provided by corporate partners including Google, Bayer, Sandvik, and Valmet. These are not theoretical exercises—they are real operational, logistical, and data-driven problems that these companies face today. For AI professionals, this represents a rare opportunity to apply cutting-edge techniques to high-impact use cases with direct feedback from domain experts.
Why It Matters for AI Professionals
For AI practitioners, the Since AI Hackathon 2026 offers a unique proving ground. The strict “working demos only” rule forces teams to prioritize engineering rigor and system integration over polished presentations. This aligns with the growing industry demand for AI solutions that are deployable, not just theoretically sound. Participants will gain hands-on experience with real datasets, APIs, and infrastructure provided by the challenge sponsors, giving them a direct line into how large organizations approach AI adoption.
The presence of Google, Bayer, Sandvik, and Valmet as challenge partners means that the problems span multiple verticals—from agriculture and heavy machinery to pulp and paper process automation and cloud-scale machine learning. For AI professionals looking to diversify their portfolio or pivot into a new domain, this hackathon provides exposure to industry-specific constraints and data types that are rarely accessible in open-source competitions. Additionally, the €50,000 prize pool signals that the organizers and sponsors are serious about rewarding technical excellence, not just participation.
What to Expect
Since AI Hackathon 2026 is a 72-hour continuous build event. Key structural elements include:
- Industry challenges from Google, Bayer, Sandvik, and Valmet—each with dedicated mentors and datasets.
- Working demo requirement: All submissions must be functional prototypes; slide decks and concept-only entries are disqualified.
- 1,000+ participants collaborating in teams or individually across the weekend.
- €50,000 total cash prize pool, distributed across challenge winners and overall best-in-show categories.
- MLH partnership ensures standardized rules, code of conduct, and judging criteria.
- On-site location in Turku, Finland, with facilities for 72-hour hacking including meals, sleeping areas, and technical support.
Specific tracks and challenge details are to be announced closer to the event date via the official website. Speakers and judges have not been publicly confirmed as of this writing.
Who Should Attend
The Since AI Hackathon 2026 is designed for builders. The primary target audience includes software developers, machine learning engineers, data scientists, and full-stack engineers who can rapidly prototype AI-powered applications. Product managers and UX designers with strong technical backgrounds will also find the event valuable, particularly if they can contribute to building functional demos. Researchers looking to test their models against real-world constraints are welcome, but the emphasis is on engineering and integration rather than pure research. Executives and non-technical observers are not the core audience—this is a hands-on, code-first event.
How to Register
Registration for the Since AI Hackathon 2026 is open via the official event website. Interested participants should visit sinceai.ai/hackathon for the most current information on registration deadlines, team formation guidelines, and any participation fees. As of this writing, pricing details and application requirements are to be announced. Given the 1,000-participant capacity and the significant prize pool, early registration is strongly recommended. The website also provides details on travel and accommodation for those coming from outside Turku.
