The ONE Record 2026 Hackathon offers a round-the-clock, in-person experience for developers to build innovative solutions that enhance cargo products. This event is structured around the ONE Record Data Sharing standard, challenging participants to address key industry issues using provided APIs. The hackathon begins with a week-long ideation phase for project preparation, culminating in a 28-hour intensive coding session where teams develop their projects and present ideas to a panel of industry experts and mentors. Participants will also have opportunities to attend workshops and receive guidance from mentors throughout the event.
Event Format and Logistics
• Format: The hackathon is an exclusively face-to-face event.
• Provided Amenities: Food and beverages will be provided for all approved developers during the onsite hackathon. Exclusive t-shirts and other goodies will also be distributed.
• Expenses: Participants should note that travel expenses are not covered by the event organizers.
• Registration Deadline: All registrations must be completed by April 10th, 2026.
Hackathon Schedule
• Monday, April 20th: The ideation phase officially kicks off, allowing teams to begin planning their solutions and exploring available APIs.
• Friday, April 24th: A welcome reception begins at 17:00 (doors open at 15:00 for early arrivals). This session will introduce mentors, sponsors, prizes, and challenge details. Teams will present their high-level ideas for validation.
• Saturday, April 25th: The 28-hour coding experience starts at 08:00.
• Sunday, April 26th: Coding concludes at 12:00, and final submissions are due. An informal presentation session for teams will be held around 13:00. The judging process will be completed by 15:00, followed by the winner announcements. The event officially closes around 17:00.
Participation and Team Requirements
• Team Size: Teams must consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 participants.
• Project Originality: All projects must be new ideas that have not been developed previously. Coding and development must begin on the first day of the hackathon, Saturday, April 25th.
• Challenge Requirement: Each team must select and address at least one of the official challenges, which will be released on dedicated Discord channels. For sponsored challenges, teams must explicitly opt-in during the submission process.
Submission Process
• Idea Submission (Pre-Hackathon): All teams must submit their ideas for approval to be eligible to participate. Steps include:
• Registering on Devpost.
• Submitting the project proposal via email to onerecord@iata.org, describing the problem and intended solution.
• Using Discord and Devpost to find teammates and outline team skills.
• Promoting the idea on social media using #ONERecord and #DigitalCargo.
• Presenting high-level ideas for validation during the welcome reception on Friday, April 24th.
• Final Project Submission (Sunday, April 26th by 12:00): Submissions must include two components on Devpost:
• 1. Textual Pitch: A detailed explanation of the project, including the problem it solves, the solution's function, the development process, key achievements, future steps, and links to test the solution (e.g., GitHub, website).
• 2. Video Pitch: A public or unlisted YouTube video (maximum 5 minutes) demonstrating the working solution and explaining the problems it addresses.
Prizes and Awards
A total of $12,000 in prizes is available across several sponsored challenges:
• Cathay Cargo Challenge: $3,000 in cash for the solution that best addresses the Cathay Cargo challenge.
• ULD Prize: $3,000 in cash for the team that makes the most meaningful use of technology to address the Jettainer challenge.
• CHAMP Cargosystems Prize: $3,000 in cash for the solution demonstrating the best use of the ONE Record API in terms of innovation and creativity.
• Cargo iQ Prize: $3,000 in cash for the solution that best addresses the Cargo iQ challenge.
Judging Criteria
Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Originality & Innovation: The uniqueness, value-add, and novelty of the solution.
• Technical Merit & Difficulty: The technical complexity, usability, and functionality of the build.
• Impact: The project's feasibility, potential real-world application, and ability to solve a genuine supply chain problem.
• Presentation Skills: The clarity, structure, and effectiveness of the project presentation.
Additional Information
• Intellectual Property: IATA does not retain any developer's Intellectual Property (IP) for ideas or prototypes presented during the hackathon, as detailed in the Terms and Conditions.
• Resources: More information, including full challenge and API connection details, can be found on the dedicated Developer Portal for ONE Record and the event's Discord feed.
This hackathon represents a significant opportunity for developers to shape the future of digital cargo by applying their skills to real-world challenges. Interested parties are encouraged to review the submission guidelines and register their teams to contribute to the evolution of the air cargo industry.