Global Appathon
About
The Global Appathon is a free, virtual hackathon hosted by the App Inventor Foundation and MIT App Inventor that encourages people around the world to build mobile apps for a cause. The goal of the competition is to develop an app using MIT App Inventor that aligns with the competition’s theme and demonstrates creativity, social impact, design thinking, and technical skill. Winners will be invited to present their projects at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit on July 6-8, 2026.
Note: Due to new visa restrictions by the US government, we will not be able to invite all winners to present in person at MIT. If winners are not able to enter the US, we will ask them to present remotely. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay for participants’ travel or accommodation expenses in 2026.
You are invited to submit apps developed for class projects, the AP Digital Portfolio, or the Congressional App Challenge. However, please do not re-submit apps that were previously submitted to any official App Inventor competition, such as the Global AI Hackathon, Regional Appathon, Summer Appathon, App of the Season, or App of the Month.
Theme
This year’s competition theme is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the United Nations, the 17 SDGs are intended “as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.” The Global Appathon invites you to think of a cause related to one or more of the SDGs, and identify a solution to address that cause.
Categories
There are six award categories in the competition this year:
- 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 recognized per category. Participants should select categories based on the age they will be on April 15, 2026. Participants may only make one submission, and cannot be involved in multiple teams. For example, if you submit as a youth individual, you cannot also be part of a team submission.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
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Registration opens |
February 17, 2026
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Submissions open |
March 2, 2026
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Submissions due |
April 15, 2026 at 23:59 AOE (Anywhere on Earth) |
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Winners announced |
Mid-May 2026
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Global Education Summit |
July 6-8, 2026
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Registration & Submission
Learn more about registration and submission requirements at the page below.
Judging
Submissions will be judged on the criteria listed below.
Creativity
- Submission demonstrates significant originality and creativity, offering a new or unexpected solution to a problem.
Impact
- Submission offers a solution that is directly related to the theme.
- Submission has the potential to create a meaningful impact on a substantial audience.
Design
- All UI components (e.g. buttons, labels, text) are well-sized, well-spaced, and aligned with a consistent, visually appealing design.
- App demonstrates responsive design by resizing appropriately on devices of different sizes. Note that judges may test your app on a different device than your own!
- App uses appropriate layouts (vertical, horizontal, table) to show and hide components effectively.
- Text and color are well-balanced, aesthetically appealing, and consistent.
- Navigation is intuitive, and the app is easy to use.
- All user profiles and needs are considered in app design.
Technical Skill: Software
Applicable for projects that only use software.
- App loads and runs without failure and is fully-featured.
- Code includes use of programming constructs (local variables, global variables, selection, iteration, or procedures) with sophisticated use of event-driven program techniques.
- Code includes use of abstraction through data structures (e.g. lists, dictionaries, local variables, and procedure parameters), procedures, advanced components (data science, charts, maps, or other sensors), or external resources (databases, generative AI, physical computing, or social media) to manage complexity.
Technical Skill: Hardware
Applicable for projects that include external hardware components.
- Use and design of hardware is well justified in the hardware appendix of the presentation.
- Project uses substantial original hardware components that were designed or built by the team.
- App loads, runs without failure, is navigable when not connected to hardware, and is fully-featured.
- App handles a lack of hardware connection in a graceful way (e.g. alerts user with meaningful error messages).
- Code includes use of programming constructs (local variables, global variables, selection, iteration, or procedures) with sophisticated use of event-driven program techniques.
- Code includes use of abstraction through data structures (e.g. lists, dictionaries, local variables, and procedure parameters), procedures, advanced components (data science, charts, maps, or other sensors), or external resources (databases, generative AI, physical computing, or social media) to manage complexity.
Note: We do not provide letters for visa or application purposes based on participation as a volunteer judge. We have received a number of inquiries about using judging certificates for U.S. visa and H-1B applications, as well as requests for formal support letters. This volunteer program is intended solely as a community service activity and does not meet the criteria required for immigration-related documentation.
Prizes
A total of six submissions will be recognized as winners, with one winner per category. Winners will receive the following:
- Official certificates signed by MIT App Inventor and the App Inventor Foundation
- Featured in official press from MIT App Inventor and the App Inventor Foundation
- Invitations to present their projects at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit on July 6-8, 2026.
Note: Due to new visa restrictions by the US government, we will not be able to invite all winners to present in person at MIT. If winners are not able to enter the US, we will ask them to present remotely. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay for participants’ travel or accommodation expenses in 2026.
A select number of honorable mentions will also be awarded. Honorable mentions will be invited to present their work at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit and will receive a separate certificate from the winners.
Congratulations to last year’s competition winners! Read more about the winning teams and projects here.
Prizes
A total of six submissions will be recognized as winners, with one winner per category. Winners will receive the following:
- Official certificates signed by MIT App Inventor and the App Inventor Foundation
- Featured in official press from MIT App Inventor and the App Inventor Foundation
- Invitations to present their projects at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit on July 6-8, 2026.
Note: Due to new visa restrictions by the US government, we will not be able to invite all winners to present in person at MIT. If winners are not able to enter the US, we will ask them to present remotely. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay for participants’ travel or accommodation expenses in 2026.
A select number of honorable mentions will also be awarded. Honorable mentions will be invited to present their work at the MIT App Inventor Global Education Summit and will receive a separate certificate from the winners.
Congratulations to last year’s competition winners! Read more about the winning teams and projects here.
Disclaimer
The Global Appathon is open to anyone in the world, with the exception of United States embargoed countries (Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic or Luhansk People’s Republic areas of Ukraine), regardless of age, nationality, gender identity, cultural identity, or political viewpoint. United States law prevents MIT from providing services to persons ordinarily resident in Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, or the Crimea, Donetsk People’s Republic or Luhansk People’s Republic areas of Ukraine and to parties blocked by the US Treasury Department.