UnlockedHacks

It’s a free, one-day hackathon in Portland for high school students. You’ll make a hardware or software project, solo or with a team, and show it to judges. No previous hackathon experience is needed.

Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM. It’s a 12-hour event with no overnight stay. Hacking runs from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, followed by dinner, judging, finalist presentations, competitive awards, the raffle, and closing.

Any high school student in grades 9–12 is welcome, and you don’t need experience. Mentors will be around to help with code and hardware questions.

Nothing. Admission, food, snacks, and swag are covered by our sponsors. You’ll need to arrange your own transportation; travel and flight reimbursements aren’t available.

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are provided. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, email directors@oregonunlocked.org before the event so we can plan for you. You’re always welcome to bring your own food, too.

You can build solo or in a team of up to three. Come with a team or meet people at the morning team-forming session.

AI tools are allowed and encouraged, and our sponsors are providing AI credits. All project-specific code, including AI-generated code, must be written or generated on site during hacking hours, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Yes! You can get hardware and components, design hardware, create 3D models, 3D-print parts, and assemble hardware before the event. You can also bring datasets. All project-specific coding must happen on site during hacking hours, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. This includes code generated with AI tools.

Bring a laptop, its charger, and a student ID or other proof of high school enrollment. If you’re planning a hardware project, bring the parts and tools you expect to use.

Don’t count on it yet. If our sponsors provide shared components or tools, we’ll announce what’s available before the event.

You can build any working prototype in hardware, software, or both. Apps, robots, games, and assistive devices all count. Choose from Climate & Community, Health & Accessibility, Education & Learning, or Entertainment & Creativity.

Submit by 5:30 PM, and judges will come to your desk between 6:00 and 6:50 PM. Judges deliberate from 6:50 to 7:15 PM to select the top 5 finalists. Finalist presentations run from 7:15 to 7:40 PM, with a five-minute slot per team, followed by a five-minute transition before awards at 7:45 PM. Technical execution, creativity, impact, and presentation each count for 25%.

There’s $10,000+ in total prize value across five grand prizes, four track prizes, and the Most Useful Tool award by iFixit. Every winning team member receives a prize, up to three per team. Each team can win one award; the top five finalists receive their overall placement instead of other awards.

The raffle takes place from 8:15 to 8:25 PM, after the competitive awards. It’s for individual attendees whose teams did not win any competitive award. All members of competitive-award-winning teams are excluded, including grand-prize, track-award, and sponsor-award winners.

Winning teams and individual raffle winners are called on stage to collect their physical prizes, take a photo, then step down and return to their seats.

Our organizing team, adult volunteers, and mentors are on site for the entire event, from morning check-in to evening pickup. We’ll share arrival, pickup, and contact details with families before November 14.

Yes. Attendees need a completed parent or guardian waiver. We’ll email the required forms before the event.

Yes. We’ll take photos and video to share what students build. The parent consent form includes a photo and media release. If you have questions or concerns about photos, email directors@oregonunlocked.org before the event.

Instrument is on the sixth floor, with elevator access from the main lobby. If you need an accommodation of any kind, email directors@oregonunlocked.org and we’ll work with you ahead of time.

Instrument is at 2035 NW Front Ave, Suite 600, Portland, OR 97209. Take the elevator from the main lobby to floor 6. Check-in is 8:30–9:00 AM, and pickup is 8:30–9:00 PM. Parking is limited, but NW Riverscape St is free with no time limit. Bus Line 16 doesn’t run on Saturdays, so take Line 24 or the Portland Streetcar NS Line.