AWS Kiroween Hackathon 2026
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
AWS's online hackathon for apps built with Kiro, its AI coding tool. US$100,000 in cash prizes (about ₹95 lakh), with US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) for first place. Closes 4 December 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Amazon Web Services
- Application deadline
- 30d — 5 Dec 2026
- Location
- International
About this competition
AWS Kiroween 2026 is an online, Halloween-themed hackathon from Amazon Web Services (AWS), run on Devpost, where you build a working app using AWS's AI coding tool Kiro. It offers US$100,000 in cash prizes in total, with US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh) for first place. Submissions close at 2:00 PM PT on 4 December 2026, which is 3:30 AM IST on 5 December.
Anyone of the age of majority where they live can enter, alone, in a team of up to three, or as a registered organisation. India is not on the list of excluded places. Residents of Quebec, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and some sanctioned places cannot enter.
What the program offers
The cash pool is US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). First place wins US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh), second US$20,000 and third US$10,000. The best entry in each of the four categories wins US$5,000. A Best Startup Project prize of US$10,000 goes to a founder who enters with their startup's details. Student teams can win US$1,500 plus a Kiro Pro Max subscription for the best student project in each category, and there are smaller bonus prizes for demos, blogs and social posts. These are contest prizes, and the source describes no equity being taken.
Every participant can also request a one-time allotment of 4,000 Kiro credits, by 12:00 PM PT on 1 December 2026, to build with.
Who can apply
You must be at least the age of majority where you live. Individuals, teams of up to three and registered organisations can enter. Employees or affiliates of Amazon or Devpost cannot enter, and the project must not have been built with funding, investment, a contract or a commercial licence from AWS or Devpost. For the Best Startup Project prize you must be a founder and share your LinkedIn profile and startup website. For the student prize, every team member must attend classes at a recognised academic institution.
For an Indian founder, this is open: you can enter as an individual, a team or a company. It suits builders who are happy to work in public on GitHub. It does not suit someone who wants to keep their code private, because the repo must be public and open source.
How to apply
Register on the Devpost page by clicking Join Hackathon. Request your Kiro credits if you want them. Build a new app with Kiro during the submission period, in one of four categories: Resurrection (bring dead technology back to life), Frankenstein (stitch incompatible technologies together), Skeleton Crew (a lean template with two apps built on it) or Costume Contest (a haunting, polished interface). Put the code in a public open-source GitHub repo that includes the /.kiro directory at its root. Record a demo video under three minutes and post it publicly on YouTube. Submit the app URL, description, video, repo link, a write-up of how you used Kiro and your category. A practical tip: keep the /.kiro folder committed from day one, since the repo must show it.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Submissions are checked for the basic requirements and use of Kiro, then scored by judges chosen by AWS on equally weighted criteria that include potential impact and presentation. Judging runs from 16 December 2026 to 29 January 2027, and winners are announced around 3 February 2027. Winners must pass identity and eligibility verification before prizes are paid.
About AWS and Kiro
AWS is Amazon's cloud company. Kiro is its AI coding tool, available as an IDE, CLI, web app and Kiro Crew. The hackathon is designed to show what people can build with it.
Things to check before you apply
- The project must be newly built during the submission period; standard frameworks, libraries and starter templates are allowed, but other existing code must be disclosed.
- No extensions or late submissions are accepted.
- The source we could read does not state the payout currency, tax treatment or entry fee. Indian winners should check tax and foreign-receipt rules with an adviser.
- The submission is online, and travel is not mentioned.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Cash prizes add up to US$100,000 (about ₹95 lakh). The three overall prizes are US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh), US$20,000 and US$10,000; each of the four categories has a US$5,000 prize; the Best Startup Project prize is US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh); and there are US$2,000 (Best Ghost of Kiroween Past), US$1,000 (Best Kiro Crew App), US$1,000 (Best Demo) and four US$1,500 Best Student Project prizes that also include a one-year Kiro Pro Max subscription. Blog and social-post bonus prizes pay in Kiro credits or subscriptions. A project can win one overall or category prize plus any number of bonus prizes, and every participant can request 4,000 free Kiro credits to build.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Submissions are first checked for the basic requirements and use of Kiro, then scored by judges chosen by AWS on equally weighted criteria including potential impact and presentation. Expert panels, peer review and AI-assisted analysis may be used. Judging runs from 16 December 2026 to 29 January 2027 and winners are announced around 3 February 2027. Winners must pass identity and eligibility verification before prizes are paid.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Devpost
Register on the hackathon website and request Kiro credits.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter AWS Kiroween 2026?
Anyone of the age of majority where they live, alone, in a team of up to three, or as a registered organisation. People who live in the excluded places, and employees or affiliates of Amazon or Devpost, cannot enter.
Can Indian startups and developers apply for AWS Kiroween?
Yes. India is not on the list of excluded places in the rules summary, so Indian individuals, teams and companies can enter. The submission is online.
How much can you win at AWS Kiroween 2026?
The cash pool is US$100,000. First place wins US$30,000 (about ₹28.5 lakh), second US$20,000 and third US$10,000, with US$5,000 for the best entry in each category and US$10,000 for Best Startup Project.
How are the Kiroween prizes paid?
Winners must pass identity and eligibility verification before prizes are paid. The pages we could read do not state the payout currency or timing, so ask the organisers if it matters.
What is the deadline for AWS Kiroween, and what if it has passed?
Submissions close at 2:00 PM PT on 4 December 2026, which is 3:30 AM IST on 5 December. No extensions or late submissions are accepted, and the source does not mention a later round.
Is AWS Kiroween a grant or equity?
It is a hackathon with cash prizes. The source describes no equity being taken. Your project must simply not have been built with AWS or Devpost funding or a contract.
Is there a prize for startups at Kiroween?
Yes, a Best Startup Project prize of US$10,000. To be considered, confirm you are a founder and include your LinkedIn profile and startup website in the submission.
What do I need to submit to AWS Kiroween?
A URL to your working app, a description, a demo video under three minutes on YouTube, a public open-source GitHub repo with the /.kiro directory, a write-up of how you used Kiro, and your category.
Can I submit an existing project to Kiroween?
No. The project must be newly built during the submission period. Standard frameworks, libraries and starter templates are allowed, but you must disclose other existing code.
Do I get free Kiro credits for Kiroween, and is entry free?
Each participant can request a one-time allotment of 4,000 Kiro credits by 12:00 PM PT on 1 December 2026. The pages we could read do not state an entry fee, and registration is through a Devpost sign-in.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
