Transform inspiration into innovation — A 5-week global challenge to build AI agents, agentic DevOps workflows, and intelligent applications using Microsoft's AI platform.
The AI Dev Days Hackathon is your opportunity to turn the insights from AI Dev Days into real-world innovation. This is a 5-week global challenge for developers to build cutting-edge AI solutions using Microsoft's purpose-built AI platform, GitHub, VS Code, and Azure services.
- 💰 $80,000+ in prizes across multiple categories
- 🎟️ Microsoft Build 2026 tickets for winners
- 🤝 1-on-1 mentoring session with Microsoft team
- 📣 Social promotion and recognition for winning projects
- 🌍 Global community of AI innovators
Build AI-powered solutions using Microsoft's Purpose-Built AI Platform — an end-to-end toolchain for production-ready AI systems.
Your project can be:
- 🤖 AI Agent using Microsoft Agent Framework
- ⚙️ Agentic DevOps Workflow with GitHub Copilot Agent Mode
- 🔀 Multi-Agent Application powered by Model Router
- 🔒 Secure Enterprise AI App using Microsoft Foundry
- 🔗 Agent-to-Agent (A2A) or MCP-connected system using Azure MCP
- 🛠️ Next-Gen SRE Workflow using Azure SRE Agent
All submissions must meet these three requirements:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| 🎨 AI Technology | Build using one or more hero technologies: Microsoft Foundry, Microsoft Agent Framework, Azure MCP, or GitHub Copilot Agent Mode |
| ☁️ Azure Deployment | Deploy to Azure — your application must leverage Azure services and be deployable to the Azure cloud platform |
| 💻 GitHub Development | Host in a public GitHub repository, develop with VS Code or Visual Studio, and enhance with GitHub Copilot |
Note: Teams may win multiple categories. Grand Prize winners are also eligible for category prizes.
|
🏅 Grand Prize: Build AI Applications & Agents
Best overall solution with real-world impact and innovative use of Microsoft AI platform |
🏅 Grand Prize: Agentic DevOps
Best solution leveraging agentic DevOps to automate CI/CD, incident response, and reliability engineering |
Each category winner receives:
- Microsoft Build 2026 in-person ticket (up to 4 team members)
- $10,000 - ($2,500 per team member, up to 4 members)
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| 🏗️ Best Use of Microsoft Foundry | Demonstrates exceptional capabilities of Microsoft Foundry |
| 🏢 Best Enterprise Solution | Greatest potential for enterprise adoption with security, responsible AI, governance, and scalability |
| 🤝 Best Multi-Agent System | Most sophisticated multi-agent orchestration using Microsoft Agent Framework, A2A protocols, or MCP servers |
| ☁️ Best Azure Integration | Most effective integration with Azure services (AI Services, Functions, AKS, or Azure Database) |
Your submission must include:
- ✅ Working Project — Built with required developer tools meeting core requirements
- 📄 Project Description — Features, functionality, problem solved, and technologies used
- 🎥 Demo Video — 2 minutes max, uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo (public link)
- 💻 Public GitHub Repository — Source code for judging and testing
- 🏛️ Architecture Diagram — Illustrating use of Microsoft Foundry, Agent Framework, Azure MCP, GitHub Copilot, and/or Azure services
- 👥 Team Information — Microsoft Learn usernames for all participants
Projects are evaluated across five equally-weighted dimensions (20% each):
- Quality software development practices
- Effective use of hero technologies
- Well-structured, documented, and maintainable code
- Creative application of Agentic AI patterns
- Sophisticated agent orchestration or multi-agent collaboration
- Novel AI implementation or meaningful improvements
- Significance of the problem being solved
- Production deployment readiness
- Potential impact on developers, businesses, or end users
- Well-designed and intuitive user experience
- Clear communication of project value in demo
- Balanced frontend and backend implementation
- Comply with the description of the applicable hackathon category.
Get started with these learning resources:
- 📖 Microsoft Foundry Documentation
- 🤖 Build Agents with Microsoft Agent Framework
- 🔗 Azure MCP Integration Guide
- 🤝 GitHub Copilot Agent Mode Documentation
- 🎥 AI Dev Days Session Recordings
| Phase | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📝 Registration | Jan 20 - Feb 22, 2026 | Sign up and form your team |
| 💻 Hacking | Feb 10 - Mar 15, 2026 | Build your AI solution |
| 🔍 Project Review | Mar 16 - Mar 22, 2026 | Judging period |
| 🎉 Announcements | Mar 25, 2026 | Winners revealed! |
Reach out to the organizing team for support. Good luck building! 🚀
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