Attend online · October 2026 · Free

Hacktoberfest is back. Earn stickers, and get stickers shipped to your door.

Hacktoberfest is a free, month-long celebration of open source throughout October. This year, it’s all about building with open-weight models and open-source AI. Join from anywhere in the world, collect virtual stickers by completing challenges, and we’ll mail you a sticker pack.

A free, month-long celebration of open source throughout October. Join from anywhere in the world, collect virtual stickers by completing challenges, and we’ll mail you a sticker pack.

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Presenting partner

How it works

Complete milestones, unlock rewards.

This Hacktoberfest, rather than opening pull requests, you’ll be learning about open-source and open-weight AI models. Complete challenges to collect virtual stickers and receive real rewards.

3 virtual stickers

Receive an IRL sticker pack

10 virtual stickers

Unlock a bonus holographic sticker

Earn any 10 virtual stickers and we’ll include a bonus holographic sticker in your mailed sticker pack.

17 virtual stickers

Become a Completionist

Collect 17 stickers and get automatically entered in a raffle to win a Hacktoberfest 2026 t-shirt or an Arduino Uno Q board. Congrats on being a Hacktoberfest Completionist!

Stickers and prizes will be mailed 8-12 weeks after Hacktoberfest concludes.

The sticker book

24 stickers to collect.

There are 24 stickers to collect for this Hacktoberfest. Hover over one to see what unlocks it.

RequiredYou must collect these stickers to receive any rewards.

LivestreamsAttend live sessions and hone your skills.

DEV ChallengesBuild with open-weight models and open-source AI, and share what you learned.

Global Hack WeekA week of virtual learning and community events.

ToolsUtilize great tools to help you build awesome projects.

SurveysComplete our pre- and post-event surveys.

In person2 more stickers are earned in person, at events near you.

See every sticker

Common questions

New here? Start with these.

What is Hacktoberfest 2026?

Hacktoberfest is a month-long celebration of open source throughout October. In 2026, the focus is on learning and building with open-source AI and open-weight models, both through in-person and online activities. MLH and DEV are managing the event this year in partnership with our friends at DigitalOcean.

Do I still submit pull requests to earn swag?

Pull requests and merge requests will no longer count toward Hacktoberfest rewards. It’s easier than ever to submit low-effort spam PRs to projects, so we’re listening to maintainer feedback and no longer actively incentivizing PRs. That being said, we certainly still encourage you to work on open source and share your work with the world during Hacktoberfest. Our new format focuses on learning and building together while reducing the burden of low-effort contributions on maintainers.

Who can take part?

Hacktoberfest welcomes participants aged 13 or older, subject to country eligibility rules. Individual Fests may have their own audience and age restrictions, so check the event page before registering. If you are under 18, ask the host about any parental permission requirements. DEV Challenges have separate contest eligibility rules.

How do DEV Challenges work?

There is a Weekend Challenge and four weekly open-source AI rounds, with cash prizes. You need a DEV account to enter. You can sign up for the Hacktoberfest DEV Challenges today.

When will my sticker pack arrive?

Sticker packs will begin shipping after Hacktoberfest concludes and should arrive at most destinations within 30 to 60 days.

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