We’re thrilled to announce that CloudFest Hackathon is returning for its ninth edition, and we’re ready to make 2026 our most impactful year yet!
Following the tremendous success of our 2025 edition—with 110 attendees from 24 countries, 0 no-shows, and 10 groundbreaking open-source projects—we’re raising the bar even higher for 2026.
There are three ways to get involved—as an attendee, by suggesting a project, or as a partner.
1. Attendee Application
Apply by January 11, 2026!
We’re hand-selecting 110 participants for three full days of high-performance hacking at the luxurious Hotel Krønasår in Europa-Park.
We’ve strategically moved to a Friday-Sunday schedule: March 20-22 to give attendees more focused hacking time, even better networking opportunities, and create extended value for everyone involved—all while positioning participants perfectly for CloudFest’s exciting new Monday programming (to be announced).
Who should apply?
- Web Developers & Software Engineers
- System Administrators & DevOps Engineers
- Frontend & UX Designers
- NEW FOR 2026: AI/ML Engineers, Prompt Engineers & Next-Gen Innovators
- Students, recent graduates, and young developers
- Open-source contributors and community builders
What’s included for invited attendees:
✓ Free admission to CloudFest Hackathon (March 20-22, 2026)
✓ Free admission to CloudFest main event (March 23-26, 2026)
✓ Complimentary 2-night stay at Hotel Krønasår with daily breakfast
✓ Full catering during the Hackathon with unlimited beverages
✓ Exclusive CloudFest Hackathon 2026 swag
✓ Access to world-class mentorship and networking
Important: This year, we’re running ONE public application round only.
With 400+ applications expected for 110 spots, early applications have the best chance of selection.
Apply at: hackathon.cloudfest.com
Please note: This application process is for individual contributors who are not affiliated with or being sent by a CloudFest or Hackathon partner. Partners have dedicated attendee spots through their partnership packages.
2. Got a Project Idea? We Want to Hear From You!
The heart of CloudFest Hackathon is our commitment to not-for-profit, interoperable, open-source projects that shape the future of the open web. We’re seeking 10 groundbreaking projects for 2026, and yours could be one of them!
What makes a great CloudFest Hackathon project?
- Addresses real challenges in the open-source ecosystem
- Has clear, achievable goals within three days
- Benefits the broader open-source community
- Embraces diversity and collaboration
- NEW FOR 2026: Projects incorporating AI/ML technologies encouraged!
Your project will receive:
- Pre-event refinement and scoping with our expert mentors
- Guidance from industry leaders during the hackathon
- Connection to relevant open-source communities
- Visibility through our channels
- Chance to compete for 6 prestigious awards
Meet Your 2026 Mentors:
- Lucas Radke (Automattic) – WordPress VIP Product Manager
- Alain Schlesser, Software Engineer, Google Developer Expert & WP-CLI Maintainer
- Simon Kraft (Patchstack) – Product Manager
Project submission is now open!
Submit your ideas via our website’s project page or email ha*******@*******st.com
3. Partner With Us: Shape the Future of Open Source
CloudFest Hackathon partnerships are unlike any other. Our fixed-fee model (not project-related) limits commercial characteristics and drives authentic engagement with the open-source communities.
Why partner with CloudFest Hackathon?
✓ Access 110 elite developers, engineers, and open-source contributors
✓ Position your brand as an innovation leader and showcase your expertise
✓ Meaningful networking through collaborative problem-solving
✓ Jury participation to shape the future of open-source (package #3)
✓ 95% of our 2025 partners would partner again!
Partnership Packages:
- Innovator Package – €3,000
- Catalyst Package – €8,000
- Visionary Package – €12,500
Each package includes attendee spots, CloudFest Vendor Passes, marketing visibility, and jury participation.
Only 12 partnership spots available—first come, first served!
Contact us: ha*******@*******st.com
Full details: hackathon.cloudfest.com/hackathon-become-a-partner
Find out more
For more info, visit the CloudFest Hackathon microsite
