HackDKU 2026

About HackDKU

HackDKU is the DKU Computer Science Club’s annual interdisciplinary hackathon. Commemorating everything we learned as a community throughout the academic year, HackDKU challenges everyone to apply creative problem solving, technical expertise, and entrepreneurship to bring forth innovation that matters globally. Our mission is to present Duke Kunshan University as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, blending technological innovation with art, sciences, critical thinking, and creativity.

Event Details

HackDKU is more than a competition; it’s a celebration of collaborative spirit and the joy of innovation. It’s a call to action for those who seek to make a lasting impact, nurturing teams and relationships dedicated to developing solutions that endure long after the hackathon ends. Join us in this journey of cross-boundary collaboration and be part of shaping solutions that matter.

Who can participate?

HackDKU is not just an annual hackathon. It is a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and interaction that extends beyond a single campus. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Duke Kunshan University while actively engaging students and collaborators from universities across China, the event becomes a dynamic convergence of minds from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. By bridging institutional boundaries, it reinforces its core purpose of fostering open exchange, technical creativity, and cross community collaboration.

Format

The success of HackDKU 2025 made clear the breadth of new and unique ideas that could arise within the HackDKU formula. Although we’re inclusive of all kinds of projects, this made judging complicated. This year, we’re scoping HackDKU to thecentral theme of Ethics and AI, but keeping the three-track system. Participants will still have the freedom to choose a track to specialize in, but their idea must adhere to this central theme that is of Ethics and AI. Judges decide on one winner per track, based on quality of the final product, presentation quality, and how the idea fits with the hackathon theme and track of choice. HackDKU is no longer an overnight hackathon, but a week-long sprint where teams are encouraged to create as much impact as possible. This extra time gives teams the freedom to fully create what they want, and bring something special to the HackDKU stage. Common milestones (i.e. Tuesday: submit wireframe) will be mandatory to keep all teams at a steady cadence. Any vibe coding must use the Lovable platform. Credits to access Lovable will be provided on the first day of the event.