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Kingston, Jamaica ·Feb 20, 2027 (tentative)

Build something
that should exist.

One day. One team. Make something real. A hackathon for secondary-school students across Kingston.

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About

Jamaica’s student
hackathon.

Hack 876 brings together secondary-school students for one day of building, experimenting, and turning ideas into real prototypes.

  • You don’t need to arrive with a startup idea.
  • You don’t need to be the best programmer in your school.
  • Bring curiosity, a team, and something you want to make better.
hackers
80 hackers
teams
20 teams
schools
9 schools
day
1 day

The Hack

Build something
that should exist.

Find a problem, opportunity, or experience you care about. Then spend the day turning your idea into something people can actually see, use, or experience.

You could build

  • Websites
  • Apps
  • AI tools
  • Games
  • Hardware
  • Data projects
  • Automations
  • Agents
  • Interactive experiences
  • + whatever else brings it to life

Use whatever tech fits your idea. Never built anything before? That’s fine.

HACK876
I built
it.

Ideas / Tracks

Where will your
idea take you?

Explore a track, or blend a few. They’re here to inspire you, not to box you in.

tap one for idea sparks

  • Learn

    Rethink how people learn.

  • Everyday Jamaica

    Make daily life, getting around and staying well easier.

  • Create & Hustle

    Build for small businesses, creators and Jamaican culture.

  • Resilience

    Think climate, infrastructure, emergencies, or community resilience.

  • Wildcard

    Build something nobody asked for.

What counts

What makes a good hack?

  1. Solve something real.

    Start with a problem or moment you actually understand.

  2. Make something that works.

    A rough demo that runs beats a perfect slide deck.

  3. Try something bold.

    Take a swing. Judges notice ambition.

  4. Know what you built.

    Explain how it works, why it matters, and what’s next.

Complexity alone does not win Hack 876.

A simple idea that works, solves something real, and is explained well beats a pile of tech every time.

What judges look at

Six things, in plain language. No secret formula.

Problem & Insight
Did you find something worth fixing, and do you get why it matters?
Product & Solution
Does your idea actually answer the problem?
Execution
Does it work? How much did you really build today?
Originality
Is it fresh, or a new take on something familiar?
Impact
Who would this help, and how much?
Pitch & Demo
Can you show it and explain it clearly?

Schedule

One day.
A lot can happen.

Doors open at 8. Hacking starts at 9:45. By 7:30 you’ll have built something that didn’t exist this morning.

Saturday, February 20, 2027Tentative

  • Arrive
  • Build
  • Show
  • Celebrate

Times may shift a little. Final run-of-show goes to accepted hackers.

  1. Arrive

    Doors open

    Check in, grab your lanyard, find your table.

  2. Opening

    Welcome to Hack 876. Let’s go.

  3. Keynote

    A little inspiration before the chaos.

  4. Challenge reveal

    The prompt drops. Start scheming.

  5. Build

    Hacking begins

    Clock’s running. Build.

  6. Lunch

    Refuel. Talk to other teams. Steal nothing.

  7. Submissions open

    Start wrapping up and write your submission.

  8. Hacking ends

    Hands off keyboards.

  9. Show

    Judging

    Demo to the judges. Show what works.

  10. Finalists announced

    Hearts racing.

  11. Finals

    Top teams demo on the main stage.

  12. Celebrate

    Awards

    Trophies, cheering, probably some screaming.

  13. Photos + hangout

    Get the photo. Swap socials.

  14. That’s a wrap

    Go home and sleep. You earned it.

Who can attend

5th Form through
Upper 6th Form.

Hack 876 is open to students at participating schools. Participating schools recommend students, and recommended students apply here. You’re welcome whether you code, design, research, or just really want to build something.

Team size
3–4
students
Spots
80
hackers max
Schools
9
participating

Venue

Spanish Court Hotel

Kingston, Jamaica

View on Maps (opens in a new tab)

From 9 participating schools

  • Hillel AcademyConfirmed
  • Campion CollegeConfirmed
  • Jamaica CollegePending confirmation
  • Immaculate Conception High SchoolPending confirmation
  • Wolmer'sPending confirmation
  • Ardenne High SchoolIn talks
  • American International School of KingstonPending confirmation
  • St. Andrew High School for GirlsPending confirmation
  • St. George's CollegePending confirmation

People

judges, partners & organizers.

People who build things for a living. They’ll be watching your demos and picking the winners.

Keynote speaker

Surprise

Someone you’ll want to hear from.

Our keynote speaker opens the day. We’re keeping the name under wraps for now. Revealed closer to the event.

Judges

Partners

Organizers & hosts

Prizes

Build. Present.
Get recognized.

Six ways to walk away a winner. Here’s what’s up for grabs so far.

  1. Hack 876 Winner

    The whole thing. Best overall build.

    iPad per student (up to 4)

  2. Second Place

    So close. Still brilliant.

    AirPods Pro per student (up to 4)

  3. Third Place

    On the podium.

    US$150 gift card per student (up to 4)

Plus special awards

  • Best Design

    Looks great. Feels even better.

    US$50 gift card per student (up to 4)

  • Boldest Idea

    The swing nobody else took.

    US$200 team project grant

  • People’s Choice

    Voted by the room.

    US$50 gift card per student (up to 4)

Prizes are tentative and subject to change.

Sponsors

Made possible by

Organizing sponsor

P237 Labs
  • Lev Beauty
  • Vault Motors
  • Norus Technologies
  • Frankies
  • .xyz
  • Big Media Ja

Interested in supporting Hack 876?

Help 80 students build something real. We’d love to talk.

Partner with us

FAQ

Questions? Good.

The short answers. Still stuck? Email info@hack876.com.

Everyone follows the Code of Conduct and the Event Rules.

What is a hackathon?

An event where you team up and build something from scratch in a short amount of time. At Hack 876 that's one day.

You don't have to hack into anything. It's about making things: apps, games, tools, gadgets, whatever you can pull off before the clock runs out.

Who can attend?

Students in 5th Form through Upper 6th Form at participating schools. Schools recommend students, and recommended students then apply. There are 80 spots.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Great teams need designers, researchers, storytellers and people who can pitch. If you've never built anything before, that's fine. Come curious.

Do I need a team before applying?

No. Apply solo or with friends. If you don't have a team, we'll help you find one, possibly with students from other schools.

How big can my team be?

3 to 4 students.

What can I build?

Websites, apps, AI tools, games, hardware, data projects, automations, interactive experiences. Whatever brings your idea to life. The tracks are there for inspiration, not to box you in.

Can I use AI tools?

Yes, within the tools organizers approve for the event. Some AI tools have minimum ages, and a few are 18 and over, so we'll publish which tools participants may use beforehand.

Whatever you use, be ready to explain what you built and how it works. Judges will ask.

details coming
What should I bring?

Your own laptop (or another device you can build on) and its charger, your school ID and a water bottle. Hack 876 won’t be providing laptops or other hardware, so every student needs to bring their own device. A full packing list will be shared with accepted hackers before the event.

details coming
Is Hack 876 free?

Our goal is that students won't need to buy any technology tools to build their projects. Any participation cost will be confirmed here.

details coming
Will food be provided?

Yes, food is provided on the day. Meal specifics and dietary arrangements will be shared with accepted hackers.

details coming
When is Hack 876?

Saturday, February 20, 2027. The date is tentative, and we'll confirm it here.

details coming
Where is Hack 876?

At the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

How does judging work?

Teams demo to judges, who look at the problem you picked, your solution, how well it works, originality, impact, and your pitch. Finalists then demo on the main stage.

Complexity alone does not win Hack 876.

Can I start my project before the event?

Brainstorm and plan all you want, but code is written on the day, once hacking begins. The full rules are on the Event Rules page.

For parents & guardians

Hack 876 is a supervised, school-day-length event for secondary students. Here’s what to expect.

Supervisiondetails coming
Students are supervised by event staff and volunteers throughout the day. Details on staffing and ratios will be shared with families before the event.
Schedule
Hack 876 is planned for Saturday, February 20, 2027 (tentative). It is a one-day event, not overnight. Doors open at 8:00 AM and the event wraps at 7:30 PM. Pick-up details will be shared ahead of time.
Venue
Hack 876 takes place at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.
Fooddetails coming
Food is provided on the day. Meal specifics are still being finalized, and dietary requirements will be collected from accepted students.
Laptops & devices
Every student needs to bring their own laptop or other device to build on, plus a charger. Hack 876 won’t be providing laptops or other hardware.
Emergency contactsdetails coming
An on-site contact and emergency procedures will be shared with every family before the event.
Permission & consentdetails coming
A signed parent or guardian consent form will be required for every participant. Forms will be sent to accepted students.

Bring an idea.
Leave with a prototype.

80 spots. One day. Find something worth fixing, then build it.

Apply now Read the FAQ