AI Genesis 2026 — Global Hybrid AI Hackathon (Dubai finale)

AI Genesis 2026 is a free, global hybrid AI hackathon that runs online from 26 October to 2 November 2026 and culminates live in Dubai on 2-3 November at the /function1 AI Conference and Exhibition. Organised by lablab.ai (NativelyAI), it invites AI builders from anywhere in the world, working solo or in teams, to design and ship real, working AI applications over roughly a week, with selected participants invited to an in-person build day and an on-stage pitch finale in the United Arab Emirates.

Format: online build, Dubai finale

The hackathon is structured as a distributed sprint with a live climax. From 26 October to 2 November, participants build and collaborate entirely online via the lablab.ai platform and its Discord and Twitch channels, with all projects due by the end of 2 November. On that same day, a curated group of approved participants joins an exclusive on-site build day in Dubai to make final improvements and meet peers and mentors face to face. On 3 November, finalists pitch on stage at the /function1 conference, where winners are announced in front of the wider AI ecosystem. Anyone can take part remotely; on-site attendance is by invitation only, and the organisers note that travel and accommodation are not covered. This format lets a globally distributed field compete on equal footing while giving standout teams a real-world stage. Expert mentors support participants throughout the build week, answering questions and helping teams scope projects that are ambitious enough to stand out yet realistic enough to ship inside the deadline. The week-long window, rather than a single weekend, gives builders room to iterate, test, and polish a genuine working demo.

Challenge tracks, partners, and what to build

AI Genesis challenges participants to move beyond basic demos and deliver impactful, real-world AI projects, whether boosting human productivity, solving industry problems, or reimagining creative workflows. A defining feature is the partner-track model: teams choose which industry or technology partner's tools to build with, unlocking dedicated challenge categories, resources, and prize opportunities. Each partner challenge focuses on practical applications of its technology while encouraging bold, original ideas within that frame. Projects are judged inside the partner category they target, with separate recognition for each partner's top implementations. Submissions require:

• A project title with short and long descriptions and technology and category tags
• A cover image, a video presentation, and a slide deck
• A public GitHub repository and a working, hosted demo application

Judging weighs four criteria evenly: application of the chosen technology, clarity of presentation, business value and practical impact, and originality. Submissions must be original, open-source work under the MIT License unless stated otherwise, reflecting lablab.ai's community-and-open-source ethos.

Who should join and why it matters in 2026

The event is open to everyone regardless of prior AI or coding experience, from students and first-time builders to experienced developers, founders, and researchers, and participants without a team can find collaborators through the platform and Discord. Mentors and judges are drawn from the AI industry, including founders and technical leaders from NativelyAI, AI/ML API, and other partner organisations, plus developer-relations and research figures from across the ecosystem. Positioned as one of the largest AI hackathons in the Middle East and tied to the /function1 conference, which gathers thousands of founders, developers, investors, and researchers, AI Genesis connects to the broader 2026 surge in applied generative and agentic AI: the emphasis on shipping deployable apps, using multiple model providers, and building autonomous, business-relevant tools mirrors how the industry has shifted from experimentation toward production. For builders, it is a low-cost way to learn current tooling, ship a portfolio project, and gain visibility on a global stage.

Registering and taking part

Participation is free, and builders register on the lablab.ai event page and join the associated Discord and platform to take part; signing up before the kick-off stream is recommended so participants do not miss the opening briefing. The full slate of partner challenges, prizes, speaker line-up, and detailed schedule are revealed in the run-up to the kick-off and confirmed on the official event page rather than estimated here. Whether you join purely online or aim for the Dubai finale, AI Genesis 2026 rewards original, well-presented AI projects with real-world utility, making it a useful entry point for anyone wanting to build, learn, and connect within the global AI developer community.