DATES
Registration opens on August 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.
The official building period begins on September 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and ends on October 11, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
Judging takes place from October 12 through October 18, 2026. Winners are scheduled to be announced on October 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.
Devpost’s records and the Organizer’s official clock will determine whether a submission was received before the deadline.
ELIGIBILITY
Proof of Possible 2026 is open worldwide, except where participation is prohibited by applicable law or platform policy.
Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to four people. Each participant may belong to only one team and be associated with only one submission.
Participants who are minors in their place of residence must receive permission from a parent or legal guardian and complete any consent process required by the Organizer.
No purchase or entry fee is required.
PROJECT AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The core project must be built during the official hackathon period. Participants may use disclosed open-source libraries, APIs, datasets, templates, models, design systems, and previously created general-purpose components.
A project that substantially existed before the competition is not eligible simply because it received minor updates. If a team extends earlier work, it must clearly identify what existed before the hackathon and what significant new functionality was created during the event.
Every entry must contain a functional prototype or testable demonstration, source-code repository, written explanation, technology list, demonstration video of no more than three minutes, third-party disclosures, and team contribution statement.
Generative AI and AI-assisted development tools are allowed. Participants remain responsible for the accuracy, security, originality, licensing, and behavior of their submissions.
Projects must not:
• Violate applicable laws or third-party rights
• Contain plagiarized or intentionally deceptive work
• Include malware or facilitate unauthorized system access
• Enable harmful surveillance, impersonation, harassment, or discrimination
• Expose private information, passwords, credentials, or API keys
• Contain hateful, sexually exploitative, or otherwise prohibited material
• Misrepresent what was created by the team during the event
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Participants retain ownership of their original work.
By submitting, participants grant the Organizer and Devpost permission to host, display, reproduce, and share public submission materials for administering, judging, documenting, and promoting the hackathon and its results.
Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have permission to use all submitted code, models, datasets, media, and third-party materials.
JUDGING
Eligible projects will be evaluated using the following criteria:
• Real Value — 25%
• Technical Execution — 25%
• Originality — 20%
• Usability and Design — 15%
• Responsible Delivery — 15%
If projects are tied, the higher Real Value score will determine placement, followed by Technical Execution, Responsible Delivery, and finally a majority decision of the judging panel.
Judges must disclose conflicts of interest and may not evaluate projects with which they have a personal, financial, academic, or professional connection.
AWARDS
Proof of Possible 2026 offers recognition-based awards and no cash prizes.
Planned awards include:
• Proof of Possible Award — Overall Winner
• Deep Build Award — Technical Excellence
• Left Field Award — Most Original
• People First Award — Human Impact
• Made for Humans Award — Best User Experience
Recognition may include digital certificates, Devpost winner designations, project spotlights, written feedback, and invitations to present during the virtual showcase. These recognitions have no stated cash value and cannot be exchanged for money.
CONDUCT AND DISQUALIFICATION
Participants must communicate respectfully and may not harass, threaten, impersonate, discriminate against, or deliberately disrupt other participants.
The Organizer may disqualify an entry for plagiarism, deception, inaccessible submission materials, unauthorized collaboration, rule violations, harassment, or behavior that threatens the fairness or safety of the event.
The Organizer may modify, postpone, suspend, or cancel the event if technical failures, legal restrictions, fraud, force majeure, or circumstances outside its reasonable control affect the competition. Material changes will be communicated through Devpost.
By registering or submitting, participants agree to these rules, Devpost’s Terms of Service, and the final decisions of the Organizer and judges.