Hack the North
September 18-20, 2026 In-person event
Official Member
Welcome to Canada's biggest hackathon
This September, join 1,000+ hackers from around the world and build with people who think differently. Learn from world-class mentors, connect with the community, and turn ideas into something real. 13 years in, Hack the North continues to bring hands-on workshops, unforgettable experiences, and real connections with the companies shaping what's next in tech.
Not from Waterloo? We cover food, help with travel expenses, and provide lodging so you can focus on turning your dreams into reality.
You belong in tech
Breaking into tech isn't always straightforward. Hack the North is built to lower those barriers, bringing together attendees from around the world in a space where everyone can learn, build, and dream bigger!
Canada's biggest hackathon!
Canada's biggest hackathon!
Join a global community
Step into a vibrant space of curious, creative students from around the world. Connect with mentors, sponsors, and industry leaders, explore new ideas, and build something you’re proud of, no matter your experience level.
Plant the seed of an idea
Start with a spark and watch it grow. We’ll support you with mentorship, workshops, and all the tools you need — so you can focus on building, experimenting, and bringing your ideas to life.
Make lasting memories
Take a break from hacking and enjoy fun activities planned just for you! Whether it’s spicy chip challenges or therapy dogs, there’s always a way to recharge and make lasting memories.
Dream big and build bigger
Every year, hackers bring bold ideas to life at Hack the North. Explore past projects and the stories behind them, and get inspired for what you'll build next.
S-KBD67
This project reimagines FPS gameplay by turning a Nerf blaster into a real-world game controller, where aiming, movement, reloading, and weapon switching are driven by physical motion and embedded inputs. Sensor-equipped hardware sends data wirelessly to a Python backend, which translates player actions into responsive in-game controls in real time.
Live Job Opportunities
Discover opportunities from our sponsors
Explore a live list of roles from our sponsors and discover where your skills can take you. Connect with companies and find what's next.
Sponsor a Special Weekend
Our sponsors make it possible for us to unite prospective developers, designers, and builders from across the globe. Hackers make meaningful connections with our sponsors beyond just the hackathon weekend.
Stay tuned as we confirm more sponsors for Hack the North 2026!
Want to help make this event a reality? Email us at sponsor@hackthenorth.com.
Frequently asked questions
Hack the North is Canada's biggest hackathon, where 1,000+ students of different skill levels come together from around the world to experiment and create unique software or hardware projects from scratch. We empower and enable teams to make something great in only 36 hours by providing an abundance of resources like workshops, mentors, sponsors, and hardware.
Hackers may form teams of up to 4 people. There are no restrictions for who they can be, so you can team up with hackers from any school, country, or experience level. Teams can be formed before or during the event at hackers’ own discretion.
Hey Hackers!
Hack the North is put on by builders for builders, and this year we're bringing you all together for our most ambitious event yet.
You won't want to miss this.
We're emphasizing interactivity throughout the event and hiding surprises everywhere: on this wonderful website, in some mind-blowing hardware, and weaving you into the story itself!
And we're doing all this to inspire you to be as creative as possible, to dream big and build amazing things now and into the future, because we know you're capable of greatness.
So we hope you're as hyped as we are, and we can't wait to see you in September! In the meantime, we'll get back to organizing.
— Team Hack the North 💚
Made with 💚 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
