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HACK THE TRACK 2026

Build for a More Sustainable Future

Kentucky's high school hackathon returned for its second year on September 11–12, 2026 at Genuine Work in Louisville, with a new Learnathon day, three tracks, and one theme: build something that makes a measurable difference.

2
Days: Learnathon + Hackathon
3
Tracks
$600
Cash Prizes
23
Sponsors

Winning Projects

Judges scored every team on a 100-point rubric and awarded cash prizes to the top three.

Fashioneers - 1st Place Winner at Hack the Track 2026
1st Place

Fashioneers

$300 Prize
Photo coming soon
2nd Place

Air Write

$200 Prize
Photo coming soon
3rd Place

Tacit

$100 Prize

Special Awards

Six awards recognizing standout work across sustainability, collaboration, code, community, design, and innovation

Photo coming soon
Environmental & Sustainability Award

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Photo coming soon
Hack the Track Interdisciplinary Award

Team Zero

Photo coming soon
Coding Mastery Award

Untitled Team Name

Photo coming soon
Social Impact Award

Hack Titans

KMAC Special Award recipients at Hack the Track 2026
KMAC Special Award
Photo coming soon
Churchill Downs Innovation Award

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How the weekend went

Two days. Three tracks. One theme.

01

Friday: the Learnathon

Doors opened at Genuine Work on Friday afternoon. After a welcome and event overview, students formed teams and brainstormed, then rotated through a Hardware Learnathon and a Sustainable Fashion Learnathon with KMAC. Dinner was followed by two hours of project planning and early hacking before doors closed at 10 PM.

02

Saturday: the Hackathon

Teams were back at 8 AM for breakfast and a full day of building, with mentors circulating to help unstick problems. Projects were due at 4 PM, judging ran until 5:20, and the awards ceremony closed out the weekend.

03

The theme: Build for a More Sustainable Future

Every project, in every track, was asked to make a measurable difference for people or the planet. Sustainability and impact counted for a quarter of each team's score.

The 2026 tracks

  • SoftwareApps, websites, and digital tools that help people live more sustainably.
  • HardwarePhysical prototypes that tackle a real problem in a measurable way.
  • Sustainable FashionGarments and accessories designed, repaired, and reimagined with lower-impact materials and methods, with a hands-on Learnathon led by KMAC.
Teams working on laptops and prototypes at Hack the Track 2026, with a hardware project taking shape in the foreground
Hack the Track organizers gathered around a team's laptop to help during the Saturday hacking session
A student wiring an Arduino breadboard during the hardware track at Hack the Track 2026
A 3D-printed smart trash-sorting prototype wired to an Arduino on a team's table
A student pinning pink trim onto black fabric for a sustainable fashion track project
Students arranging upcycled blue fabric pieces on the floor for a sustainable fashion project
A flower sculpted from cut-up aluminum cans, made during the KMAC sustainable fashion Learnathon
Two students pair-programming on a laptop during the software track at Hack the Track 2026
A student smiling while trying on a wearable prototype made from recycled materials
A team and their mentor flashing OK signs at their table during Hack the Track 2026
The Hack the Track 2026 student organizing team in matching black shirts at Genuine Work
An award winner holding their certificate with the Hack the Track organizing team at the 2026 awards ceremony
Students receiving certificates from KMAC at the Hack the Track 2026 awards ceremony
Four students pose with a garment they designed at Hack the Track 2026

2026 Event Schedule

When

September 11–12, 2026
Friday 3PM – Saturday 7PM

Where

Genuine Work
750 E. Jefferson St.
NuLu · Louisville, KY 40202

Who

Students grades 8–12
in the Kentuckiana region
Teams of 2–6 members

Friday · September 11

Learnathon

  1. 3:00–3:30 PMDoors open + check-in
  2. 3:30–4:00 PMOpening + event overview
  3. 4:00–5:00 PMTeam formation + brainstorming
  4. 5:00–6:00 PMHardware Learnathon
  5. 6:00–7:00 PMKMAC Sustainable Fashion Learnathon
  6. 7:00–7:30 PMDinner
  7. 7:30–9:50 PMProject planning + hacking
  8. 9:50–10:00 PMClosing announcements
  9. 10:00 PMDoors close

Saturday · September 12

Hackathon

  1. 8:00–8:30 AMDoors open + breakfast
  2. 8:30–8:40 AMWelcome back + announcements
  3. 8:40 AM–12:00 PMHacking
  4. 12:00–12:45 PMLunch
  5. 12:45–3:30 PMHacking
  6. 3:30–4:00 PMFinalize projects + pitch/demo preparation
  7. 4:00 PMProject submissions due
  8. 4:30–5:20 PMJudging
  9. 5:30–6:15 PMDinner / networking
  10. 6:20–6:50 PMAwards ceremony
  11. 7:00 PMHack the Track ends

Judging rubric · 100 points

How projects were scored

Every team pitched and demoed for a panel of judges, who scored on five criteria.

Innovation & Creativity

Originality of the idea, approach, or design.

20points

Technical / Design Execution

How well the project is built and functions.

25points

Sustainability & Impact

How meaningfully the project supports a more sustainable future.

25points

Usefulness / Feasibility

Whether the idea is practical and could be developed or used further.

10points

Presentation & Demo

Clarity, quality of demo, communication, and responses to questions.

20points

Ready for 2027?

Hack the Track is coming back. Get on the list and you'll hear the 2027 dates, venue, and registration link before anyone else. Missed 2026? See the 2025 highlights too.

Sign up for 2027