Discover upcoming AI hackathons in Canada for 2026.

AI Hackathons in Canada 2026

### Overview
The TMLS Agentic Hackathon is a five day event presented by the Toronto Machine Learning Society in collaboration with Toronto Tech Week. It brings together developers, ML engineers, product people, and first-timers who want to ship a working AI powered project within a focused, supportive environment. The event runs from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, in Toronto, Canada, with the final expo and awards on Friday. It emphasizes agentic AI tools that can contribute with reasoning and actions, rather than simple automated text generation. The agenda is designed for individuals or small teams to ideate, build, and ship a product over the course of the week, with mentorship and a clear submission deadline.

### Agenda
- Monday May 25 – Kickoff at CSI Spadina, 9 AM: pitches, team formation, project lock. Lunch provided.
- Tuesday to Thursday – Build period: work asynchronously at the venue or remotely. Mentors are available on Slack to assist teams as they progress.
- Thursday May 29 – Submit by 2 PM: final demos and code submissions.
- Friday May 30 – Expo and Awards at Wisedocs, 12 PM to 4 PM: science-fair style expo where judges rotate across project demos. Winners are announced during the event, with lunch and drinks.

### Format and Focus
There is no fixed problem or required tech stack. Teams or individuals are encouraged to build something that is real by Friday, using AI tools and platforms of their choice. The concept of agentic AI is a guiding theme, encouraging AI to actively participate in building, not merely autocomplete. Tools in the ecosystem include Cursor, Claude Code, Bolt, Lovable, v0, Replit, and more, depending on what helps teams reach a shipped product quickly.

### Who should attend
Developers and ML engineers who want to ship, product people with ideas, and first-timers who want to join the action. You do not need a full team to participate; organizers will help form groups during kickoff. The event is suitable for solo participants who are open to teaming up during the week.

### Location and format
The event takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is presented under the Toronto Tech Week umbrella as a citywide celebration of the people building what comes next. While most activities are on site in Toronto, participants may work in spaces that suit them best, with mentorship and structure provided by the organizers.

### Prizes and judging
Projects are evaluated by a panel of 5 to 7 judges from the TMLS community based on five criteria: impact and usefulness, technical execution, demo quality, novelty and creativity, and shipping mindset. Prizes include tickets to TMLS 2026, sponsor prize kits, and a People’s Choice award, with live voting. Official rules are available through the event materials.

### FAQ
- How long is the event? Five days, Monday to Friday, with a final expo on Friday afternoon.
- Do I need a team? No. If needed, team formation support is provided at kickoff.
- Where can I learn more or register? The event is part of Toronto Tech Week and is hosted by the Toronto Machine Learning Society; registration details are available via the event page and partner sites.


TMLS Agentic Hackathon

### Overview
GenZ Can Hack 2026 is an in-person hackathon held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, inviting teens aged 13 to 19 to design and build robotic solutions for innovative garbage management. The event emphasizes hands-on learning, teamwork, and real-world problem solving, with a focus on engaging young minds after the school year and exam period. Participants collaborate in small teams, typically 3 to 5 members, to conceive, prototype, and present a working robotic solution addressing sustainability and waste management challenges in the local community.

### Focus and eligibility
The challenge centers on Garbage Management, encouraging youth to apply coding, hardware, and sensor integration to create impactful robots. Eligibility outlined on the page points to ages 13 to 19, high school students, and team-based participation. The event also showcases community partnerships and local sponsors, underscoring a collaborative learning environment.

### Schedule and milestones
Key dates on the page indicate a multi month span with a final showcase deadline. The official start is listed as 2026-04-01 and the event runs through 2026-08-22, with the deadline for submissions or final presentations on August 22 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Attendees can view a full schedule or calendar entries via the site’s dates section. A calendar integration feature is provided for Apple, Google, and Outlook to help participants add the event to their personal calendars.

### Format and agenda
GenZ Can Hack 2026 combines team-based hacking sessions with a final judging period. Teams work on hardware platforms such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi, integrating sensors to support garbage management tasks. The program includes a presentation/board review process in front of professional judges, followed by awards during a formal ceremony. The page highlights a structured judging framework with criteria that emphasize Innovation, Technical Complexity, User Experience, and Teamwork.

### Speakers and judges
Judging panels feature experienced professionals in technology and software domains. Notable judges listed include Narendran Asokan (Consultant), Sharmila Narendran (Tech Lead), Siva Waran (Sr Solution Architect), and Senthuran Ananathan (Director DevOps). Their expertise spans software engineering, systems architecture, and tech leadership, contributing to a rigorous evaluation of each project.

### Prizes and recognition
Prizes include cash awards and trophies for top teams, with the champion receiving a significant cash prize and certificates for each team member. The page also describes runner-up recognitions and additional prizes, highlighting the event’s commitment to recognizing student achievement and encouraging continued interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

### Sponsors and community
The event lists sponsors and partners within the local community and the broader Devpost ecosystem. It also notes a host of resources for participants, such as planning guides, blogs, and webinars, aimed at helping teams prepare and engage effectively throughout the hackathon lifecycle.

### Who should attend
The event is designed for Canadian youth born between 2007 and 2013 seeking to explore robotics, coding, and hardware development in a collaborative, supportive setting. It is suitable for students who are excited about problem solving, teamwork, and presenting innovative solutions to real-world environmental challenges.

AI Hackathons in Canada 2026

Events in Locations