116 Students, 20 Universities, One Mission: CivicHacks 2026

CivicHacks 2026 brought together students from all backgrounds for a hackathon unlike any other — one where the measure of a great project wasn’t just technical skill, but the depth of its impact. With a focus on ethical innovation, 116 participants across 20 different universities and colleges were challenged to think critically about the tools they built and the communities those tools would serve.

The hackathon leadership team ensured that student participants took the challenge seriously.

“Through structured prompts and challenges, CivicHacks encourages students not only to understand the issues to create impactful solutions, but also to contemplate the ethics of their work,” BU Spark! Hackathon Ambassador, Khadija Ali, said. “I believe we help reframe their mindset to think not just about building solutions, but about the people they are building for. In doing so, students begin to see that they have the ability and responsibility to create meaningful change.”

From seasoned coders to first-time hackers driven purely by a passion for social change, teams dove into some of the most pressing issues in public life — from education equity to environmental sustainability to justice reform for two high-velocity innovative days on February 21 to 22, 2026. The energy throughout the Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences was a reminder of what technology can be when it’s built with intention: a force for expanding access, strengthening communities, and earning the trust of the people it’s meant to serve.

“By connecting classroom theory with the urgent, real-world needs of our sponsors, we show students that they don’t have to wait for graduation to make a difference. At the intersection of tech and government, they’re able to find their power to build a better world,” Civic Hacks Program Lead, Makeda Hailu, said.

Students formed teams of 4-5 individuals and competed for a portion of the $7,050 prize pool among four different tracks: CityHack, EduHack, EcoHack, and JusticeHack.

• CityHack: CityHack invites participants to reimagine cities as more equitable, efficient, and livable spaces. This track focuses on urban challenges shaped by social, economic, and political systems, and encourages teams to explore how technology can improve city services, civic engagement, housing, transportation, and community well-being.
• EcoHack: EcoHack challenges participants to design technology-driven solutions that address pressing environmental and ecological issues. Teams will work at the intersection of environmental science, biology, sustainability, and data to tackle challenges such as food equity, waste management, climate resilience, and ecosystem health. 
• EduHack: EduHack challenges participants to innovate within education systems, from K–12 to higher education. In collaboration with Wheelock and local education partners, teams will explore how technology—especially AI and data-driven tools—can enhance learning outcomes, support educators, and promote equitable access to education. 
• JusticeHack: JusticeHack focuses on improving access to justice and rethinking legal and criminal justice systems through technology. Participants will collaborate with legal experts, public defenders, and advocacy organizations to build tools that increase transparency, fairness, and accessibility across courts, legal processes, and community justice efforts.

Throughout the weekend, participants had access to a packed lineup of 11 workshops and sessions to choose from, designed to equip them with skills that they can use long after the hackathon ends. Topics covered everything from Figma for Civic Prototypes and Building Chatbots with APIs to GitHub Copilot and Google AI Studio. A workshop highlight was Red Hat’s Open Source AI session, which gave participants hands-on guidance on using open-source tools to build civic technology with real impact.

Between the workshops, an Opportunity Expo gave participants and students at large a chance to build early relationships with organizations committed to making a positive civic impact. But most importantly, students had a chance to take off their problem-solving hats and revel in the moment during karaoke and “camp-style” games.

“Watching students and organizers connect as people while sharing laughs and aspirations really reminded me that our mission isn’t just about building software, it’s about fostering a safe, supportive community. We want students to build for the future, but we also want them to enjoy the present. Creating a space where they can recharge and play is how we ensure innovation comes from a place of joy, not burnout,” Hailu said.

For a full list of winning projects, please visit the DevPost here.

Thank you to the event sponsors and partners who made the weekend a success!

Mullen Family Foundation

Red Hat

Avanade

Allium

CYVL

GBH

Center for Media Innovation & Social Impact 

PIT-UN Tech for Change