Junction 2026 is Junction’s annual flagship hackathon, bringing up to 2,000 builders to Hype Areena in Espoo, Finland. Participants spend 48 hours in teams of one to four building working prototypes for partner challenges.
The event welcomes hackers, designers, engineers and other problem-solvers from Finland and abroad. Its 2026 theme is European Tech Renaissance, and the preliminary program also includes workshops, a hardware lab, a startup lounge and recruiting activities.
Benefits & funding
- A €100,000 total prize pool is distributed across the weekend; the full breakdown has not yet been published.
- Limited €100 and €300 travel grants are available for participants traveling from outside Finland. The official pages say the strongest applications receive support but do not specify which applicants receive each amount.
- Participants can access workshops, partner challenges, peer feedback, judging, networking and career-facing activities during the event.
Eligibility
- International and Finnish builders, hackers, designers, engineers and problem-solvers may apply.
- Applicants may register individually or as a team; teams can have one to four members.
- The organizer states that Junction events are open to different skill sets with no prerequisites, and prior coding experience is not required.
- The event is in person in Espoo and its official working language is English.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Sign in to or create an account on the Junction Platform.
- 2Open the Junction 2026 registration page and complete the application by September 6, 2026 at 20:55 UTC.
- 3Applicants traveling from outside Finland may submit the separate travel-grant form; the organizer advises applying early.
- 4Wait for the organizer’s acceptance decision.
- 5Accepted participants form a team of up to four members and prepare for the on-site challenge selection and build.
Program timeline
Application deadline
September 6, 2026 at 20:55 UTC
Terminal Week and pre-events begin
November 9, 2026
Doors open, opening ceremony and hacking begin
November 13, 2026
Final submissions, review, final ceremony and event end
November 15, 2026