The Open Source Hackathon 2026 is a nationwide coding challenge designed to encourage developers to contribute to real-world open-source projects, collaborate with fellow innovators, and enhance their practical development skills.
Powered by Unstop and supported by students and communities from IITs and NITs, this hackathon provides participants with an opportunity to work on live repositories, solve meaningful issues, and compete for exciting rewards.
Who Should Apply
Open to all students and professionals across India. Participants must have basic knowledge of Git, GitHub, and software development workflows. Individual participation only.
Format & Timeline
The hackathon consists of two rounds:
- Round 1: Screening Round — All registered participants undergo an initial screening based on their GitHub profile, technical background, and registration responses. Selected participants proceed to the main round.
- Round 2: Open Source Contribution Round — Shortlisted participants receive repository access via email. They are assigned repositories and issues/tasks, and must submit contributions through GitHub Pull Requests following standard practices and repository guidelines.
Evaluation is based on code quality, innovation, impact, documentation, readability, successful PR merges, and adherence to project guidelines.
Prizes
Total prize pool of ₹20,000:
- 1st Rank: ₹10,000
- 2nd Rank: ₹6,000
- 3rd Rank: ₹4,000
All eligible participants receive participation certificates; top performers receive Certificates of Excellence. Outstanding contributors may receive additional recognition.
Eligibility
Open to all students and professionals in India. Individual participation only. Must have an active GitHub account and basic Git/GitHub knowledge. Multiple registrations from the same participant are not permitted.
How to Apply
Register on Unstop before the deadline. Complete registration, qualify through the screening round, receive repository details via email, and submit your contributions.
