About this Event
IMPORTANT EVENTBRITE DATE NOTICE
Please note that this event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7 – Sunday, November 8, 2026. Registration reqires a refundable deposit. Deposist are returned upon successful participation in the hackathon and must be requested before December 20, 2026.
OVERVIEW
UNHack 2026 is a two-day hackathon hosted by YSpace and the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University, bringing together engineering students to tackle real-world challenges inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participation does not need a startup idea, previous hackathon experience, or advanced technical skills. Through the programming you'll be guided through a structured process that takes you from problem → idea → prototype → pitch, with support from mentors, facilitators, and technical experts along the way.
KEY DETAILS
📅 When
- Saturday, November 7 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
📍 Where
- Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, York University
👥 Who Can Participate
UNHack is open to Lassonde undergraduate engineering students. You can register:
- Individually - we'll help match you with a team
- With a pre-formed team of 3–5 students
💡 What You'll Do
Over two days, you'll:
1. Identify a problem
Explore selected UN Sustainable Development Goal challenge tracks and define a focused How Might We (HMW) problem statement.
2. Develop your solution
Generate ideas, understand your users, evaluate existing alternatives, and select a concept to pursue.
3. Build a prototype
Turn your idea into an achievable prototype or MVP with dedicated build time, workshops, technical support, and mentor office hours.
4. Pitch your solution
Develop and practice your pitch before presenting your solution to judges. Top teams will advance to the final round and pitch on the main stage.
🏆 PRIZES & OPPORTUNITIES
- Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams
- Mentorship from industry professionals and technical experts
- Hands-on experience with design thinking, prototyping, and pitching
- Experience Ventures: The first 60 eligible domestic students may receive. $325 upon successful completion of the hackathon and associated program requirements. Funding is first-come, first-served and subject to eligibility.
💰 REGISTRATION
Registration requires a $15 refundable deposit.
Your $15 registration fee (excluding applicable Eventbrite fees and taxes) will be refunded if you attend and complete the required hackathon activities across both days.
Please bring your laptop, charger, student ID, and anything else you need to work comfortably.
⚠️ IMPORTANT EVENTBRITE DATE NOTICE
Please note: Eventbrite requires the ticket/event date to be displayed as December 20, 2026 for registration and refund-processing purposes.
This is NOT the actual hackathon date.
The actual UNHack 2026 event takes place on:
Saturday, November 7 & Sunday, November 8, 2026
After registering, you will receive a calendar invitation with the correct November 7–8 event dates. Please use the calendar invitation and the information in this event description when planning your attendance.
💻 WHAT YOU'LL USE
- DISCO — access workshops, resources, announcements, templates, and submissions.
- Miro — collaborate with your team and document your journey from problem → idea → solution.
- A dedicated communication channel will also be used for important announcements and updates throughout the hackathon.
🍽️ WHAT YOU'LL GET
Light meals and refreshments will be provided throughout the hackathon.
🚨 NO OVERNIGHT ACCESS
The Bergeron Centre will close Saturday evening. There will be no overnight access to the venue.
You'll return Sunday morning to continue building and prepare for your final pitch.
Ready to turn a real-world challenge into a solution?
Register for UNHack 2026 and build something that matters.
Event venue & nearby stays
Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, 11 Arboretum Lane, Toronto, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.