Tradition Hacks : 2026

Tradition Hacks is a Kolkata inspired innovation hackathon celebrating the intersection of culture, creativity, technology, literature, and modern problem solving. Rooted in the artistic and intellectual spirit of Bengal, this hackathon invites participants to reimagine traditional systems, stories, lifestyles, and local challenges using technology, AI, software, hardware, design, and creative thinking. Inspired by the timeless essence of Kolkata including its literature, cinema, music, tram culture, adda, art, food heritage, and storytelling traditions, Tradition Hacks aims to create solutions that preserve culture while building for the future. This is not just a coding competition. It is a celebration of ideas, identity, creativity, innovation, and meaningful impact. Problem Domains: Cultural Preservation through Technology AI for Heritage and Literature Smart Tourism and Local Experiences Bengali Language Technology and Accessibility Community and Social Innovation Web3 Innovation Education and Knowledge Platforms Open Innovation Design and Creativity Eligibility: Tradition Hacks is open to college students, university students, developers, designers, researchers, innovators, and startups. Both beginners and experienced participants are welcome to participate and collaborate. Cross disciplinary thinking and creative experimentation are highly encouraged throughout the hackathon. Team Size: Participants can compete individually or in teams of up to 3 members. Teams with mixed technical and creative backgrounds are encouraged to bring diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to problem solving. Hackathon Format: The hackathon will begin with an online submission and evaluation phase where participants will develop and submit their ideas, prototypes, research models, or technical solutions. Shortlisted teams will advance to the Final Round which will be conducted completely offline in Kolkata. The final showcase will include live demonstrations, presentations, networking opportunities, mentor interactions, and jury evaluations. Deliverables: Each participating team is expected to submit a complete project presentation including the project title, problem statement, solution description, presentation deck, demo video, documentation, and repository links if applicable. Teams may also submit design prototypes, research models, hardware demonstrations, or creative showcases depending on the nature of the project. Judging Criteria: Projects will be evaluated on the basis of creativity, originality, technical implementation, real world impact, scalability, design quality, cultural relevance, presentation, and innovation potential. The judging panel will focus on solutions that meaningfully connect innovation with tradition while creating practical and scalable impact.  Extra credit will be given if the project involves a quality usage of Miro Rules and Regulations: Every participant must register through the official platform. One participant cannot be part of multiple teams. Teams must adhere to all submission deadlines. Any form of plagiarism will lead to immediate disqualification. Open source libraries, APIs, and AI tools are allowed. Pre existing work must be properly disclosed during submission. All submitted files and links must remain publicly accessible for evaluation. The submitted solution should be functional, demonstrable, or properly documented. Participants are expected to maintain respectful and professional conduct throughout the event. Organizers reserve the right to disqualify any participant or team violating the code of conduct. Why Participate: Tradition Hacks offers participants an opportunity to build impactful projects while collaborating with creative minds from different domains. The hackathon provides a platform to showcase technical and artistic skills, connect with mentors and innovators, experience the cultural spirit of Kolkata, and compete for exciting prizes, recognition, and opportunities. We have prizes for all who are attending and participating in this event. Final Note: Tradition Hacks is built on the belief that innovation does not erase tradition. Innovation can preserve, amplify, and celebrate it. Through this initiative, participants are encouraged to create solutions that respect heritage while shaping the future through technology, creativity, and meaningful collaboration.