AI Lodge Hackathon 2026
Singapore Management University
📌About the Event
The AI Lodge Hackathon 2026 is an artificial intelligence-focused hackathon organized by SMU Business Intelligence & Analytics (SMU BIA) as the culminating project experience of its AI Lodge programme. Participants are challenged to transform what they have learned about AI into functional, real-world projects. Projects can address everyday problems, workplace productivity, AI safety, business challenges, or an open-ended idea. The emphasis is on meaningful AI integration, responsible AI practices, experimentation, and practical value rather than simply building a basic LLM wrapper.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Mode of Conduct: The hackathon listing identifies the competition as online, while AI Lodge concludes with a Hackathon Finals & Project Exhibition as part of the programme.
- Focus: Participants build practical AI-powered solutions and demonstrate how AI contributes meaningfully to the project’s functionality.
- Projects for Daily Life: Consumer-facing AI solutions designed to make everyday activities easier, more accessible, or enjoyable.
- Productivity & Workflows: AI tools for workplaces or schools that automate repetitive work or improve individual and team productivity.
📅 Important Dates
- Hackathon listing/start: September 22, 2026.
- Hackathon deadline/end: October 19, 2026
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibilty:
- The hackathon is connected to AI Lodge, SMU BIA’s structured AI/ML learning programme. The programme is designed for students interested in AI and includes tracks suitable for people without a technical or coding background.
- Participants must develop a project aligned with one of the five available tracks.
- The submission must include a GitHub repository containing the project’s codebase.
- Participants must provide a link to a deployed version of their project.
- A Devpost project write-up, including relevant project images, is required.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- The competition lists five non-cash prizes, corresponding to the five hackathon tracks.
- Projects for Daily Life Track Winner: Awarded to the best project in the track.
- Productivity & Workflows Track Winner: Awarded to the strongest project focused on improving work or study workflows.
- Safety by Design Track Winner: Recognizes the leading project addressing AI safety or security.
- Solving a Business Problem Track Winner: Recognizes the best AI solution tackling a real business challenge.