The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is an annual two-day hackathon run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with space agency partners. Participants use NASA and partner open data to address official challenges concerning Earth and space.
The 2026 event runs online through the Universal Event and through virtual or in-person Local Events worldwide. Registration opens on August 26, 2026, and the hackathon takes place on November 14–15.
Benefits & funding
- Participation is free; an official Local Event may not charge an entry fee.
- Projects can advance from local or Universal Event judging to global judging and ten Global Awards.
- Participation is voluntary and unpaid, and NASA does not promise cash funding or compensation.
Eligibility
- The event welcomes people of all ages, skill levels, educational backgrounds, and professional backgrounds; no degree or work-experience threshold is stated.
- Participants may join an in-person or virtual Local Event, or the virtual Universal Event when no nearby event is available.
- Participants under 18 must be registered by a parent or legal guardian and accompanied by that adult throughout the event.
- U.S. federal civil service employees cannot register as participants.
- Eligibility is not restricted by Chinese nationality. However, participants may not take part in connection with an affiliation with China or a Chinese-owned entity, including covered entities in Hong Kong and Macau.
- Everyone must register online before their event starts and accept the participant terms.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
Appears to have an age limit “under 18”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1From August 26, create a Space Apps account or sign in on the official website and register for the 2026 challenge.
- 2Select an in-person or virtual Local Event, or the virtual Universal Event if there is no suitable event nearby.
- 3When team formation opens on September 17, form or join a team and review the challenge summaries.
- 4Review the full challenge statements from October 28 and prepare to build the project during the November 14–15 event.
- 5Follow the 2026 project-submission and judging guide when it is released, cite every resource used, and submit through the team project page.
Program timeline
October 5, 2025
Most recent cycle’s project-submission deadline; retained as the prior-cycle deadline while 2026 registration is not yet open.
Registration opens.
August 26, 2026
Challenge summaries become available and team formation opens.
September 17, 2026
Full challenge statements become available.
October 28, 2026
Space Apps Connect opens.
November 2, 2026
Global Offers and the project-submission and judging guides become available.
November 13, 2026
NASA Space Apps Challenge takes place.
November 14–15, 2026
Global Nominees, Global Finalists, and Honorable Mentions are announced.
December 2026
Global Winners are announced.
January 2027