The Global Appathon, a free virtual hackathon hosted by the App Inventor Foundation and MIT App Inventor, invites participants worldwide to develop mobile applications for a cause. The competition challenges entrants to create an app using MIT App Inventor that reflects the event's theme while showcasing creativity, social impact, design thinking, and technical proficiency. Winners will have the opportunity to present their projects at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit, scheduled for July 6-8, 2026. It is noted that due to U.S. visa restrictions, some winners may be required to present remotely, and the program is unable to cover travel or accommodation expenses.
Competition Theme
The theme for this year's competition is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants are encouraged to devise a solution addressing a cause related to one or more of the 17 SDGs, which serve as a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
Award Categories
• Junior individual: 1 member, <13 years old
• Junior team: 2-5 members, <13 years old
• Youth individual: 1 member, 13-17 years old
• Youth team: 2-5 members, 13-17 years old
• Adult individual: 1 member, 18+ years old
• All-Ages team: 2-5 members, any age
One winning submission will be selected from each category. Participant categories are determined by their age on April 15, 2026. Each participant may only be involved in one submission, either as an individual or as part of a single team.
Program Timeline
• Registration opens: February 17, 2026
• Submissions open: March 2, 2026
• Submissions due: April 15, 2026 at 23:59 AOE (Anywhere on Earth)
• Winners announced: Mid-May 2026
• Global Education Summit: July 6-8, 2026
Submission Guidelines
Participants are welcome to submit applications developed for other initiatives, such as class projects, the AP Digital Portfolio, or the Congressional App Challenge. However, apps previously submitted to any official App Inventor competition (including the Global AI Hackathon, Regional Appathon, Summer Appathon, App of the Season, or App of the Month) are not eligible for re-submission. All projects must be submitted by the deadline of April 15, 2026, at 23:59 AOE.
Judging Criteria
• Creativity: The submission should demonstrate significant originality and offer a new or unexpected solution to a problem.
• Impact: The project must offer a solution directly related to the theme and have the potential to create a meaningful impact on a substantial audience.
• Design: Evaluation will cover UI component sizing and spacing, responsive design for various devices, effective use of layouts, balanced text and color, intuitive navigation, and consideration for all user profiles and needs.
• Technical Skill (Software): For software-only projects, the app must be fully-featured, load and run without failure, and demonstrate sophisticated use of programming constructs and abstraction through data structures, procedures, or advanced components.
• Technical Skill (Hardware): For projects with hardware, the submission must justify the hardware's use, feature substantial original components, run without failure, and gracefully handle a lack of hardware connection. The code should exhibit sophisticated use of programming constructs and abstraction.
Prizes and Recognition
A total of six winning submissions, one from each category, will be recognized. Winners will receive:
• Official certificates signed by MIT App Inventor and the App Inventor Foundation.
• Features in official press releases from the host organizations.
• Invitations to present their projects at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit on July 6-8, 2026.
Additionally, a select number of honorable mentions will be awarded. These recipients will also be invited to present their work at the summit and will receive a separate certificate.
Eligibility and Restrictions
The Global Appathon is open to participants worldwide, irrespective of age, nationality, gender identity, cultural identity, or political viewpoint. However, due to United States law, individuals ordinarily resident in U.S. embargoed countries (Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic or Luhansk People’s Republic areas of Ukraine) and parties blocked by the U.S. Treasury Department are not eligible to participate.
This program offers a unique platform for developers and innovators to address global challenges through mobile technology. Interested individuals and teams are encouraged to review the complete registration and submission requirements on the official Global Appathon website for further details on how to participate.