Common questions
Everything you need to know.
Hacktoberfest works differently this year, and a new format always comes with questions. Here is how to take part, in person or online, what changed about pull requests, and what you can earn along the way.
Getting started
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.
How do I earn swag?
Fests will have T-shirts and other swag available in limited quantities. Contact your local host to learn more about what is available at their Fest and how to receive the swag. If your Fest ran out of stickers, don’t worry! We will be sending a sticker pack directly to your door as a thank you for participating.
How do I take part?
Sign in to My Hacktoberfest with your MyMLH account. The participant dashboard will open by October 1 and show the activities and requirements needed to earn your sticker pack. Connecting your DEV account is optional but recommended, since it will award you a special DEV badge and allow you to earn credit for participating in DEV Challenges.
- In person: Find a Fest and register on its event page. Each Fest has a separate registration.
- Online: Join DEV Challenges, MLH livestreams, or Global Hack Week: Hacktoberfest to connect with our community and complete digital challenges.
Anyone is welcome to participate online, in person, or both.
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.
Is it free to attend a Fest?
Almost all Fests, including Hack Days and Meetups, are free to attend! Certain pop-ups take place at ticketed conferences.
Pull requests and open source
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.
How is Hacktoberfest 2026 different from previous years?
Hacktoberfest 2026 will feature 300+ in-person and online community events worldwide focused on hands-on building, experimentation, and learning with open-source AI and open-weight models. In previous years, Hacktoberfest focused on counting individual contributions to open-source projects.
How can I still get involved in open source?
Open source runs 365 days a year, and you can get started anytime. Just because Hacktoberfest isn’t incentivizing open source contributions with swag doesn’t mean you can’t contribute any more. Check out this guide to get started.
In-person events
What happens at a Fest?
A Fest is a locally organized, one-day, in-person event. Hack Days are mini-hackathons where you build and demo a project, while Meetups will vary in their format and could feature talks, workshops, discussions, or other social activities.
Are beginners welcome?
Beginners are welcome to learn, and you don’t need to build an AI project to attend a Meetup or watch a livestream.
What should I bring to a Fest?
If you are building, bring a laptop and charger. If not, just bring yourself!
Where can I find event details or ask about accommodations?
Check your Fest’s page for the schedule, venue, food, accessibility, check-in instructions, and anything to install or bring. Contact the host about equipment, accommodations, late arrival, or registration changes.
Can I enter a Hack Day alone or with a team?
You can enter alone or in a team of any size. Events have enough prizes for up to four team members, so larger teams must share their prizes.
What are the Hack Day project rules?
Project details are largely up to the Fest host. Check the event’s requirements before you build, since prize categories may have additional rules or requirements.
Does every member of my team have to register and check in?
Yes. All team members must register and check in.
How do I submit a Hack Day project?
One teammate opens Challenges on the Fest’s event page, selects Add Submission, enters the project details, selects the challenges being entered, and submits before the host’s deadline.
When do I need to complete and submit my project?
Projects must be completed and submitted on the day of the Hack Day, before the deadline provided by the host.
How are Hack Day winners chosen?
The host chooses winners based on the event’s challenge rules and project demos. Ask your local host about judging criteria.
Online DEV Challenges
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.
Where can I find DEV Challenge rules and deadlines?
Hacktoberfest’s DEV Challenges follow DEV’s standard Official Challenges and Hackathon Rules, plus the instructions on each challenge page. Check those pages for age and country eligibility, entry requirements, deadlines, teams, judging, and prizes.
Rewards and support
Will I receive a participation certificate?
All in-person participants receive an official participation certificate. Hosts may also issue their own. Access them in My Hacktoberfest.
Can I earn a DEV badge?
There are many ways to receive a DEV badge, including hosting a Fest, attending a Fest, becoming a Hacktoberfest Completionist, and completing or winning a Hacktoberfest DEV Challenge. You’ll need to connect your DEV account to your My Hacktoberfest profile to receive the badges.
What prizes can I win at a Hack Day?
The most common prize for a Hack Day will be a special swag bag filled with MLH+DEV merch that is awarded on site at your Fest to the winning team(s). In the event that your Fest is missing a prize due to shipping delays, we will send a prize of equivalent or greater value directly to you within 60 days of your Fest ending.
Can I get a T-shirt or event swag?
T-shirts and event swag are available in person while supplies last. They are not guaranteed, and the host of your local Fest will decide how to distribute them. T-shirts are not promised to online participants.
Who can earn a sticker pack?
All participants can earn a sticker pack, whether participating online or in person, through the activities on their participant page.
How do I earn a sticker pack?
Sign in to My Hacktoberfest and complete the activities required on your participant page. We will release the full list there, and the portal will tell you what you need to do. There is no fixed cap on sticker packs, but signing in alone does not qualify you.
Which activities count toward a sticker pack?
Every activity that counts is on the Activities page, with the sticker each one earns.
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.
Does activity completed before the milestones are announced count?
Yes. Eligible Hacktoberfest activity completed before the milestones are announced also counts.
Who can help with questions about my Fest?
Use Contact Host on the Fest’s event page for questions about logistics, project rules, accessibility, or registration.
Where can I get help with a DEV Challenge?
For DEV Challenges, use the relevant challenge page for rules and questions.
Who can help with swag, prizes, or general Hacktoberfest questions?
Email [email protected].
How do I report harassment or a safety concern?
Contact [email protected]. You can contact MLH directly if the concern involves a host. In an emergency, contact local emergency services.