Registration opened for RobotHack 2026, an international artificial intelligence and robotics hackathon offering an 8,000 euro prize pool as employers expect artificial intelligence and information processing technologies to change their business operations by 2030.
RobotHack 2026 Registration Remains Open Until November 19
- Registration for the RobotHack 2026 hackathon remains open until November 19, targeting developers, students, and engineers across Europe.
- Participants compete for an 8,000 euro prize pool, which includes 3,000 euro in direct cash prizes alongside partner-backed awards.
RobotHack 2026 Launches With 8,000 Euro Prize Pool
The international artificial intelligence and robotics hackathon RobotHack 2026 runs from November 24 to November 28 under the motto „Cilvēki. Roboti. Kopā.” Participation in the event is free of charge, with registration closing on November 19.
Online evening sessions take place from November 24 through November 27. The final day on November 28 moves to an in-person format in Riga, where finalists present their prototypes directly to a judging panel.
The closing presentations on November 28 take place at Riga Technical University.
Corporate Challenges and Track Focus Areas
Competitors focus on three core tracks—logistics, humans and robots, and smart cities—or tackle specific challenges supplied by corporate partners. Riga City Municipality, IN3 Group, Latvijas Pasts, AI Studio, and the Latvian IT Cluster provide project prompts covering service robot deployment, hazardous pavement detection, and warehouse process automation.
Solutions can take the form of software, algorithms, computer vision models, digital simulations, or physical hardware prototypes. On November 26, participants can tour partner laboratories and meet technical experts during the “Hack the Lab” program.
Employers Expect AI and Robotics to Reshape Business Operations
A World Economic Forum report from 2025 shows that 86% of surveyed employers expect artificial intelligence and information processing technologies to fundamentally reshape business operations by 2030. Meanwhile, 58% of respondents anticipate a comparable operational transformation driven by robotics and automation.
„RobotHack provides an innovation-open environment and expert support to help participants quickly turn their ideas into prototypes and solve real challenges,” said Kārlis Skuja, organizer of the hackathon, told kursors.lv.
| Event Phase | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Online Sessions | Nov 24 – Nov 27 | Virtual (Evenings) |
| Lab Tours | Nov 26 | Partner Laboratories |
| Final Presentations | Nov 28 | Riga Technical University |
Teams and Individuals Can Register for the Hackathon
Registration is available for both pre-formed teams and individual participants. Teams must consist of two to six members, with at least one member currently studying at an accredited higher education institution in the European Union, and all participants must be at least 18 years old.
An online team-formation and introduction event takes place on November 19 at 18.00 to help individual participants connect with teammates and review partner challenges. Selected teams will receive notification on November 20, and the entire hackathon is conducted in English.
„Our experience shows that the best results are achieved by interdisciplinary teams combining technical knowledge, creativity, and business skills, so prior knowledge in robotics is not a mandatory requirement,” Skuja told kursors.lv.
