DeltaHacks Landing - A shopping store

Jan 10 - 11, 2026

Official Event @ McMaster University

DeltaHacks 12

McMaster University's annual hackathon for change.

DINO-MART

About

DH12!

DH12

We've Got You

We provide food, venue, and workshops—so whether you're solo or on a team, you'll have the tools and support to bring your ideas to life.

Build for Change

DeltaHacks is an annual 24-hour hackathon empowering 600+ students across North America to build impactful projects that spark positive change.

Open to All Skill Levels

With McMaster University, we welcome hackers from beginners to experts. Our team works year-round to create an inclusive, supportive space.

DeltaHacks 12

Now in its 12th year, DeltaHacks 12 is our most ambitious event yet. Come build, explore, and innovate—we'll take care of the rest!

About Background

Engage with industry leaders

DeltaHacks is your chance to learn directly from leading figures in tech. Here are just a few of the past keynote speakers we've invited to speak:

Theo Browne

Theo Browne

Youtuber & CEO of t3.chat

Ivan Zhang

Ivan Zhang

Co-Founder of Cohere

Tanmay Bakshi

Tanmay Bakshi

Senior Engineer at IBM

Chris Bautista (TrashDev)

Chris Bautista (TrashDev)

Streamer & Senior Netflix Engineer

Past Sponsors

These incredible companies help bring DeltaHacks to life, uniting to support hundreds of students during this weekend...

McMaster University Sponsor Logo
McMaster Engineering Society Sponsor Logo
Reserve Power Sponsor Logo
Procter & Gamble Sponsor Logo
Cohere Sponsor Logo
Manulife Sponsor Logo
AMD Sponsor Logo
James Dyson Foundation Sponsor Logo
Accenture Sponsor Logo
CIBC Sponsor Logo
Swift Sponsor Logo
Voiceflow Sponsor Logo
Verbwire Sponsor Logo
1Password Sponsor Logo
NordVPN Sponsor Logo
Nordpass Sponsor Logo
Incogni Sponsor Logo
Saily Sponsor Logo
Taskade Sponsor Logo
LogSnag Sponsor Logo
Balsamiq Sponsor Logo
Wolfram Sponsor Logo
Perplexity Sponsor Logo
Warp Sponsor Logo
What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is a type of technical competition! Attendees work with new people on cool ideas and get the resources needed to bring them to life. We do not condone, nor allow, any hacking or illegal activities! DeltaHacks 12 is an official MLH event. The MLH code of conduct can be found here: http://mlh.io/code-of-conduct
What is DeltaHacks?
The word “delta Δ” means change, which inspired the name DeltaHacks - McMaster's annual Hackathon for Change. This year, DeltaHacks will host 600 participants in the second week of January 2025. We aim to inspire students to hack for positive change in areas like the environment, health, inequality, education, and more!
Who can participate?
Anyone who is willing to learn and have fun! If you have an idea - or even if you don't, you're invited! All university and high school students over 13 during the date of the event are welcome at DeltaHacks!
I'm new to hackathons, what should I do?
We love first time hackers! We will be providing mentors during the hackathon and running workshops, so you’re welcome no matter your skill or experience level.
How much does it cost?
Absolutely nothing! All you need is a personal computer to bring along with you to the event!
Will DeltaHacks 12 be in person or virtual?
DeltaHacks 12 will be taking place fully in person this year.
Will attendees still get awesome swag?
Yes! There will be awesome swag for participants, mentors, and sponsors.
What's the event schedule like?
We'll be putting up one closer to the event, you can expect a lot of talks and presentations, fun events, and a lot of chances to meet new people and win prizes!
What do I need to participate?
DeltaHacks 11 will be in person. Bring in your laptop, reusable water bottle, and prepare to build some amazing projects!
Will hardware be provided?
Yes, we will have hardware available provided by MLH! Feel free to bring your own hardware if you have the material to include into your hack.
When will hacker applications be released?
Hacker applications will be released in mid-October. Follow us on socials to stay up to date and find out as soon as applications open.
How big can a team be?
Hackers may form teams of up to 4 people. There are no restrictions for who they can be, so you can team up with hackers from any school, country, or experience level. Teams can be formed before or during the event at hackers’ own discretion.
Do I have to have a team going into the event?
Nope! If you do, great! If not, there will be opportunities to network before and during the event to find some other hackers to build a project with.
What am I allowed to hack?
Your hack can be absolutely anything! There will be certain challenges your team can work towards, and you can win amazing prizes (to be released later) if your submission wins the category!
How are projects judged?
Projects are judged by event sponsors and experts from the tech sector. Projects are presented to judges at the exposition and evaluated on multiple factors such as presentation, creativity, practical application, and originality.
What's happening January 9th?
Our IN PERSON Hackathon event days are January 10th-11th. Friday, January 9 will consist of VIRTUAL Pre Hackathon Events to get you prepped and excited for the main hackathon!

Still have questions?

Reach out to us at hello@deltahacks.com, any socials, or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates!

Reach Out To Us