Gear Up Hacks 2026

Gear Up Hacks 2026 — “Gears of Change”Gear Up Hacks is a one-day, in-person hackathon for middle and high school students (grades 6–12) in the Triangle. Whether you’ve never written a line of code or you’ve shipped a dozen projects, you’ll spend the day turning an idea into something real — and leave with new skills, new friends, and a lot of swag.This year’s theme isGears of Change: Using AI to solve the problems of today, to create the solutions of tomorrow.Build something that puts AI to work on a real problem — in your school, your community, or the world.When:Saturday, October 3rd, 2026Where:The Lincoln on Geer, Durham, NCWho:Students in grades 6–12 — total beginners welcomeCost:$25 registration (need-based waivers available — no student is turned away for inability to pay)What to expectA full day of building, from opening ceremony to demos and awardsBeginner-friendly workshops and mentors on the floor all dayMeals, snacks, and drinks provided throughout the eventSwag for every hacker — t-shirts, stickers, water bottles, drawstring bags, and more (spin the wheel!)Prizes across multiple tracks, plus a Best Newcomer award just for first-timersBuild in any trackWeb apps · Mobile apps · AI/ML · Cybersecurity · Game dev · Hardware · UI/UX designEvery project should connect to the theme by putting AI to work — but how you use it is up to you.No team? No problem. Come solo, bring friends, or get matched into a team the morning of.ScheduleTimeEvent8:30 AMCheck-in & breakfastDoors open. Grab your badge, meet other hackers, and settle in.9:00 AMOpening ceremony & kickoffWelcome, the rules, the tracks, prizes, and how judging works.9:45 AMTeam formation & brainstormingFind teammates, lock your idea, and choose your track.10:00 AMHacking beginsThe clock starts. Mentors are on the floor all day — just ask.12:30 PMLunchRefuel and keep building. The clock keeps running.1:00 PMWorkshops & mentor sessionsOptional skill-building sessions running alongside open hacking.6:30 PMProjects dueFinal submissions close. Make sure everything is uploaded and ready.6:45 PMJudging & project expoJudges visit each team at their table. Show off what you built.8:45 PMAwards ceremony & closingWinners announced across every track, followed by wrap-up and group photos.Sponsors & PartnersGear Up Hacks 2026 is proudly supported by ElevenLabs, MojoAuth, and 1Password — providing our hackers with credits, tools, and technical support to build faster.Prizes & PerksFor every attendeeElevenLabs Creator tier — 1 month free ($22 value) to build with best-in-class voice AI.Overall Winning TeamElevenLabs Pro tier — 3 months free per team member ($99 value each).MojoAuth — 6 licenses for the winning team.1Password — free accounts for one year (4 available).Best Project Built with ElevenLabsElevenLabs Scale tier — 6 months free per team member ($330 value each).ResourcesElevenLabs: Promo codes and technical support available to help you get started quickly.Gear Up Hacks is organized by the Gear Up Foundation, a student-run nonprofit fiscally sponsored by Hack Club (a 501(c)(3), EIN 81-2908499).