Understand the code. Think. Build. Ship.
ACoding Hackathon 2026 is Apple Coding Academy's online hackathon: build a minimum viable iOS app in 100% native Swift/SwiftUI, no third-party libraries, and show what you can build.
100%
Online, no geo restrictions
Swift
100% NATIVE, ZERO THIRD PARTY LIBRARIES
ENG · ESP
The event runs in both
1–3
People per team
A hackathon for builders, not spectators
Over one week, developers across the Apple Coding Academy community build a minimum viable iOS app from scratch, in 100% native Swift and SwiftUI. No third-party libraries, no shortcuts: just you, Apple's SDK, and the problem you choose to solve.
Build an iOS app in pure Swift
The challenge is open: there are no fixed categories. Submissions go through a GitHub repository, no App Store publishing required, and the app must be built 100% in native Swift/SwiftUI with no external dependencies. As a starting point, here are three directions:
01
On-device AI
Explore Foundation Models and everything Apple offers to run AI directly on-device, without leaving the native ecosystem.
02
A real, everyday problem
Solve something that frustrates you day to day. The best apps almost always come from a real, well-understood annoyance.
03
A topic you're passionate about
Sports, music, health, productivity — if you're passionate about it, it shows in the product. Build with that in mind.
Hackathon calendar
Registration closes
September 16
Event
September 18 – 27
Submission deadline
September 27, 23:00 CET
Winners announced
October 4
Two categories, one challenge
Recognition and training
- Promotion on LinkedIn and ACA's social channels
- 6-month Be Native membership
- 20% discount on any Apple Coding Academy training
Global recognition
- Promotion on LinkedIn and ACA's social channels
- 6-month Be Native membership
Evaluation criteria
Hackathon director
Powered by Be Native
Your Be Native membership, unlocked
The memberships in this hackathon's prizes come from Be Native, ACA's app to learn Swift, iOS development and AI. Podcasts, guided 5-level paths, real project code and on-device AI search — free to start, right on the App Store. Understand the code and change the world.
Who can take part?
Who judges your project
The Apple Coding Academy team alongside an external jury, looking at functionality, clean code, creativity and correct use of Apple's native APIs.
35 years writing code and still convinced that programming is a way of thinking, not a job title. Apple Technical Partner, author of Aprendiendo Swift.
🦄 Independent iOS engineer, conference regular, and one of the people steering where Swift itself goes next — member of the Swift Ecosystem Steering Group.
Runs Hacking with Swift and writes the tutorials you have open in another tab right now. A million-plus developers taught, and still shipping his own apps.
Frequently asked questions
Is ACoding Hackathon 2026 online or in person? +
It's 100% online. ACoding Hackathon 2026 runs entirely over the internet from September 18 to 27, 2026, with no geographic restrictions: you take part from wherever you are.
How much does it cost to take part? +
Nothing. Taking part in ACoding Hackathon 2026 is free of charge; the only requirement is to register before September 16, 2026.
Do I need to be an Apple Coding Academy student? +
No. The hackathon is open to anyone aged 16 or over, anywhere in the world, whether or not they have taken any Apple Coding Academy training.
What do I need to take part? +
A Mac with Xcode to build the app, a GitHub account to host it, and an idea worth building. You don't need a paid Apple Developer account, because the app is never published on the App Store.
What language does the event run in? +
The hackathon runs in English and Spanish, and there are two winning categories: one Spanish-speaking and one international.
When does the hackathon start and when is the deadline? +
Registration closes on September 16, 2026. The hackathon itself runs from September 18 to 27, 2026, the final submission deadline is September 27 at 23:00 CET, and the winners are announced on October 4, 2026.
Which version of iOS should the app target? +
Version 26. Every project in ACoding Hackathon 2026 is built for version 26 of Apple's systems.
Does it have to be SwiftUI, or can I use UIKit or AppKit? +
Mainly SwiftUI. UIKit or AppKit can be used where the case calls for it, as long as everything stays inside Apple's native SDK.
Can I use third-party libraries? +
No. The app must be built 100% in native Swift and SwiftUI, with no external dependencies: only Apple's own SDK.
Can I use Apple frameworks such as SwiftData or Foundation Models? +
Yes. Anything inside Apple's SDK counts as native, including Foundation Models to run AI on-device. What is off-limits is third-party dependencies.
Can I use generative AI to write the code? +
Yes, you can use generative AI. But you then have to explain what the code does and show that you understand what you have built: understanding the code is the point of the hackathon.
Can I start from a project I had already built? +
No. The app is built from scratch during the hackathon week: that is exactly what a minimum viable app means here.
Do I need to publish my app on the App Store? +
No. Submissions are made through a GitHub repository, so you never go through App Store review.
How are projects submitted? +
Through a GitHub repository containing the app's source code: you send the link to that repository by email before the deadline on September 27, 2026 at 23:00 CET.
Who owns the project I build? +
You do, 100%. The project belongs entirely to the person who submits it; taking part in the hackathon transfers no rights over it.
Can I take part as a team? +
Yes, in teams of 1 to 3 people, or solo if you prefer. You choose the format when you register.
How are the projects evaluated? +
On four criteria: functionality, code quality and cleanliness, creativity, and correct use of Apple's native APIs.
Who judges the projects? +
Julio César Fernández, from Apple Coding Academy, together with an external jury made up of Mikaela Caron and Paul Hudson.
Who organises ACoding Hackathon 2026? +
Apple Coding Academy, a school specialised in Apple development training. The hackathon is directed by María Soriano, and the projects are judged by Julio César Fernández together with Mikaela Caron and Paul Hudson.
What are the prizes and when are the winners announced? +
There are two first prizes, one Spanish-speaking and one international. Both include promotion on LinkedIn and Apple Coding Academy's social channels plus a 6-month Be Native membership, and the Spanish-speaking winner also gets a 20% discount on any Apple Coding Academy training. Winners are announced on October 4, 2026.
Ready to prove it?
Complete the form below — official registration for ACoding Hackathon 2026.
Questions? Write to info@acoding.academy