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 is Gears 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, September 26, 2026 Where: The Lincoln on Geer, Durham, NC Who: Students in grades 6–12 — total beginners welcome Cost: $25 registration (need-based waivers available — no student is turned away for inability to pay)
What to expect
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A full day of building, from opening ceremony to demos and awards
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Beginner-friendly workshops and mentors on the floor all day
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Meals, snacks, and drinks provided throughout the event
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Swag for every hacker — t-shirts, stickers, water bottles, drawstring bags, and more (spin the wheel!)
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Prizes across multiple tracks, plus a Best Newcomer award just for first-timers
Build in any track
Web apps · Mobile apps · AI/ML · Cybersecurity · Game dev · Hardware · UI/UX design
Every 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.
Schedule
| Time | Event | |
| 8:30 AM | Check-in & breakfast | Doors open. Grab your badge, meet other hackers, and settle in. |
| 9:00 AM | Opening ceremony & kickoff | Welcome, the rules, the tracks, prizes, and how judging works. |
| 9:45 AM | Team formation & brainstorming | Find teammates, lock your idea, and choose your track. |
| 10:00 AM | Hacking begins | The clock starts. Mentors are on the floor all day — just ask. |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch | Refuel and keep building. The clock keeps running. |
| 1:00 PM | Workshops & mentor sessions | Optional skill-building sessions running alongside open hacking. |
| 6:30 PM | Projects due | Final submissions close. Make sure everything is uploaded and ready. |
| 6:45 PM | Judging & project expo | Judges visit each team at their table. Show off what you built. |
| 8:45 PM | Awards ceremony & closing | Winners announced across every track, followed by wrap-up and group photos. |
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).
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