To all young innovators, we are here with an exciting international hackathon competition you shouldn’t miss. The World Bank Group is pleased to announce applications for its flagship “World Bank Small AI Hackathon 2026.” Organized by the World Bank Group in partnership with the WBG Youth Summit, Information and Technology Solutions, and the Development Economics Vice Presidency, and managed by Hack-Nation, the competition is designed for young innovators interested in technology, development, health, agriculture, AI, and tourism to develop small, practical solutions to real-world challenges in developing economies.
The hackathon invites young people ages 18-35 from World Bank member countries to apply individually or as part of a team of up to 4. The competition will take place online from October 3-4, 2026. The three winners will be invited to Seoul, South Korea, to present their solution at the Global AI & Digital Summit 2026. Applicants must submit their applications by September 26, 2026. Read more about the WBG Small AI Hackathon below.
World Bank Small AI Hackathon 2026 – Overview
- Offered by: World Bank Group
- Managed by: Hack-Nation
- Eligible Countries: World Bank Member Countries
- Aimed at: Young Innovators
- Competition Dates: 3–4 October 2026
- Competition Mode: Online
- Application Deadline: September 26, 2026
About Small AI Hackathon
It’s a flagship initiative of the World Bank Group designed to encourage young innovators to create small, practical AI solutions for challenges faced by businesses and people. The competition encourages, instead of focusing on large-scale AI models, the development of AI solutions that can be used in environments with basic devices, limited connectivity, local data, and fewer resources.
The participants can choose from one of three areas and develop a small AI solution:
- Touruism
- Agricutlre
- Health
Develop a small AI solution that addresses a challenge in one of the above areas and can work in environments where digital resources may be limited.
Who can Apply?
The competition is inviting applications from:
- Young innovators belonging to WBG member countries
- Aged 18-35 years at the time of application
- Applicants can apply individually or as a team of up to 4 members
- Application must be submitted in English
- Each team member must register individually
- World Bank Group highly encourages innovators from emerging economies to apply
Winners Receive
One winner will be selected from each of the following categories: Agriculture, Health, and Tourism, for a total of 3. The three winners will receive:
- A funded trip to Korea to attend Global AI & Digital Summit 2026.
- Participants will receive travel costs, accommodation, and event-related expenses.
- An opportunity to present their solution on a global platform
- Take part in High Impact talks
- Meet with private sector representatives, government officials, and investors
Also check: Talk Talk Korea 2026 – Win a Korea Travel Voucher
How to Register?
The registration process for the Hackathon is online. Visit the official link below to register. Once registered, submit your small AI solutions during the competition dates, 3–4 October 2026.
For more details, visit the offical link below
APPLY FOR WBG SMALL AI HACKATHON
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