Frequently Asked Questions
Everything people ask before signing up for Banana Hacks 2026 — eligibility, cost, team size, which AI tools are allowed, how judging works, and what you need to submit.
Who can participate?
Anyone, anywhere in the world! Students, professionals, hobbyists, and first-timers are all welcome. You just need an internet connection and a passion for generative AI and image creation.
Is it free to enter?
Yes! Banana Hacks is completely free to participate in. We also plan to provide free compute credits so you can train models and run inference without worrying about costs.
Do I need a team?
Nope! You can hack solo or form a team of up to 4 people. We run a team formation event on Opening Night if you'd like to find teammates. Teams of all sizes compete in the same pool.
What tech stack can I use?
Anything goes! Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, Midjourney API, Flux, custom models, ControlNet, ComfyUI, A1111, Hugging Face Diffusers — use whatever tools help you build the best project. Open source is celebrated.
How are projects judged?
Projects are evaluated on: Creativity & Originality (30%), Technical Implementation (30%), Visual Quality / User Experience (20%), and Potential Impact (20%). Judges include working AI researchers, artists, and startup founders.
Can I use pre-trained models?
Yes! You're encouraged to build on top of existing models. The innovation can be in your application layer, fine-tuning approach, prompt engineering, workflow design, or novel combination of tools.
What should I submit?
A working demo (live URL or recorded video), GitHub repository, and a short write-up (max 500 words) explaining what you built and why. Judges will interact with live demos when possible.
Will there be prizes?
Yes — the prize pool is being finalized and will be announced closer to the event. Expect a mix of cash, compute credits, and tooling subscriptions from our sponsors, plus category awards for standout projects.
Where does hacking happen?
Banana Hacks is 100% virtual. Our community hub is on Discord. Workshops and ceremonies are on Zoom. You hack wherever you're most creative — bedroom, café, library, co-working space.
I've never done a hackathon before. Is this beginner-friendly?
Absolutely. We run dedicated beginner workshops, have mentors available throughout the weekend, and specifically celebrate first-time hackers. The only requirement is curiosity. We've seen incredible projects from people on their very first hackathon.
Still have a question?
The about page covers the event in more depth, the schedule has exact timings, and prizes & judging explains how projects are scored. Anything else — ask in our Discord once you've registered.