MIT Energy & Climate Hack

This November 6th–8th, students from around the world will come to MIT for three days to hack. Now in its 12th year, the MIT Energy & Climate Hack brings together people from every discipline to build fast, creative solutions to real energy and climate problems. This year's theme will be released shortly, so stay tuned! Past sponsors include Google, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, McKinsey Sustainability, Crusoe, Schneider Electric, and more.

Spots for the 2026 Energy and Climate Hack are limited, so fill out your application as soon as you can. We strongly encourage students from all backgrounds, majors, and levels of study (undergraduate, Master, PhD, MBA) to apply. Note: you must be over the age of 18.

Schedule

Friday, Nov 6

Stata Center (32 Vassar St), Entrance by Collier Sculpture4:00–6:00 PM: Check-in and meet other hackers. Dinner served.

Building 10 (222 Memorial Dr), Room 2506:30–7:30 PM: Opening Ceremony. Hacker welcome, keynote speaker, reveal of this year’s challenge tracks & prizes.7:30–8:30 PM: Networking and team formation. Haven’t found a team yet? Use this time to meet other hackers and form one.8:00 PM: Submit your team and challenge preferences. Form released on Discord.9:00 PM: Challenge assignments announced.

Leave the Stata Center by 6:00 PM to reach Building 10 for the 6:30 PM start. The walk takes about 10 minutes.

Saturday, Nov 7

Hacking all day (MIT Lobby 10, Building 2, Building 4)8:30 AM: Check-in opens (Lobby 10, Building 10)8:30–10:00 AM: Breakfast 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Sponsor coffee chats with Emera and COMSOL 12:00–1:00 PM: COMSOL seminar1:00–2:30 PM: Lunch 1:00–4:00 PM: Sponsor coffee chats with Emera and COMSOL 6:00–8:00 PM: Dinner

Sunday, Nov 88:00–9:30 AM: Breakfast9:30 AM–12:30 PM: Semi-final judging12:30–1:30 PM: Lunch and sponsor info sessions1:30–3:30 PM: Finals Pitches and Judging 4:00–4:30 PM: Closing ceremony in Huntington Hall (10-250) and announcement of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners

Locations will be shared with accepted hackers before the event.

FAQs

What happens at the Hack?Companies present real challenges in energy and climate. Participants form teams and spend the weekend working on their assigned challenge. Each team then pitches its solution to judges, and the top team from each challenge advances to the finals. Winners receive prizes.

Do I need to know how to code?No. Challenges are written for many fields, and the strongest teams usually mix skills: engineering, data, policy, business, and design.

Do I need a team before I apply?No. You can form a team at the event during Friday night's networking session. Teams can have up to 4 people.

Does it cost anything to attend?Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided throughout the weekend.

Is travel reimbursed?We will send out an email with more details on how to apply for travel reimbursement if you are accepted into the hackathon.

Where is it?Registration and dinner reception will take place in the MIT Stata Center (32 Vassar Street, enter from Collier Sculpture).

The opening ceremony and main events will take place on MIT's campus in the Great Dome, 222 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02139. Specific rooms will be shared with accepted participants.

I have another question. Who do I contact?Email us at [email protected]

Photographs and/or videos may be taken over the course of the Energy & Climate Hack. By entering and attending the Hack, you acknowledge and agree that your likeness may be included in photos and videos of the event and used by MIT in connection with communications about the MITEC Hack or in other MIT communications.