Overview
HackWithAditya 2026 is a 48-hour national-level hackathon organized by Aditya University in Andhra Pradesh, India. It runs in association with Oracle Academy and in collaboration with the OpenAI Student Collective. The event follows a prototype-first approach. Participants bring an existing working prototype, qualify through an online screening, and then take on new engineering challenges during an intensive build on the Aditya University campus. The total prize pool is ₹5,00,000.
Who should attend
The hackathon is aimed at student innovators, developers, and technology enthusiasts from across India. Participants must be above the legal age of majority in their country of residence. The page lists student-only eligibility and excludes companies and professional organizations. Only specific countries and territories are included. Teams must have 4 to 6 members, and solo participation is not allowed. Inter-college teams are permitted. Full eligibility details are available on the official website.
Format
HackWithAditya has two levels.
- Level 1, Online Prototype Screening (free): Teams register and submit an existing working prototype for evaluation before 25 November 2026. Shortlisted teams are invited to the on-site finale.
- Level 2, 48-Hour Enhancement Challenge: Held at Aditya University. Teams tackle new technical enhancement challenges, collaborate with other innovators, and present their engineering work to a technical jury. Shortlisted participants pay ₹800 per member, which covers on-campus accommodation, meals, an event kit, and other essentials.
Key dates
- Event listing start: 16 October 2026
- Submission deadline: 25 November 2026 at 11:45 pm IST
- The event listing also shows an end at 25 November 2026 at 1:15 pm EST
Registration and submission
All participants must register through the official website at https://hackathon.adityauniversity.in/. Devpost was used only for promotional purposes, and Devpost registration alone is not sufficient. Teams must also submit their project ideas on the official website. Only submissions made there will be considered for the first round. Participants who qualify for the next round must visit the Aditya University campus.
Prizes
The prize pool is ₹5,00,000 in cash. Awards include:
- Overall Winners: Top teams across all themes, with one cash prize winner listed.
- Strongest Engineering: Best technical execution and architecture.
- Best User Impact: The most meaningful real-world value for users.
- Hardware Innovation: Best use of hardware and embedded systems.
- Best Women-Led Team: The strongest team led by a woman.
- Community Choice: Voted on by fellow participants.
Judging criteria
Projects are evaluated on problem relevance, prototype credibility, 48-hour feasibility, technical clarity, and originality.
Judges
The listed judges are Dr. G Suresh and Dr. M V Rajesh from Aditya University, Dr. G Ramu, Dean of TT, and Dr. A Vanathi from Aditya University.
Themes
The event listing tags the hackathon with Education, Health, and Machine Learning/AI. The page does not publish an hour-by-hour agenda, session schedule, or speaker list.
FAQ
Is the first level free? Yes, Level 1 is completely free.
Can I participate solo? No. Each team must have a minimum of 4 members and a maximum of 6.
Where does the on-site round take place? At the Aditya University campus in Andhra Pradesh.
Where should I register? On the official website, not only on Devpost.
How can I ask questions? The page offers an option to email the hackathon manager, but the email address is not shown in the visible content.
