Know Before You Go: Your Guide to the now[dev]26 Hackathon
Mark your calendar, bookmark this page, and start thinking about your dream team, because the now[dev]26 Hackathon is almost here, and we've got everything you need to know before you show up.
Check out the now[dev]26 Hackathon webpage for more information!
The Basics
When: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 11:30 AM – 8 PM PT
Where: San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA
The Rundown:
|
Time (PT) |
What's Happening |
|
11:30 AM – 12 PM |
In-person team formation: groups of 3–6 |
|
12 PM |
Kickoff |
|
1 PM |
Building begins |
|
7 PM |
Submission deadline + cClosing reception |
|
8 PM |
Event ends |
Winners will be announced during the morning keynote on November 5th, so don't dip out early.
Why Participate
Here's what you'll walk away with:
- Test new ideas with the latest ServiceNow capabilities, in a room full of people doing the same thing.
- Collaborate with other practitioners and get support from product experts on the floor all day.
- Learn skills and development patterns you can apply at work the following week: this is momentum for the work you're already doing.
- Showcase your build and compete for prizes, with a shot at the hackathon champion crown on the now[dev]26 keynote stage.
Who Can Participate
Short answer: if you're curious and have a laptop, you belong here.
Longer answer: you're a great fit if you:
- Build apps and tools
- Design solutions
- Automate work with AI and agents
- Connect systems and data
- Solve business problems
- Are simply eager to learn and try something new
The best teams come from a mix of all the above. You don't need to be a developer to join.
Team Formation
Teams must have 3 to 6 members, and solo entries aren't allowed. The best ideas tend to come from diverse teams, so don't just recruit the people you already know.
Don't have a team yet? You've got two options:
- Virtual: Join our optional pre-event team formation session on Wednesday, October 21, 10:00–10:45 AM PT. [Register via Zoom] and add it to your calendar.
- In-person: Show up November 4th at 11:30 AM and find your teammates on-site before kickoff.
A few tips from past hackathon MVPs on building a strong team:
"Build a balanced team, not a team of experts in the same area." — Velvizhi Sujatha
"Build a team with complementary skills, shared enthusiasm, and different perspectives, not just people you already know." — Mahwish Subzwari
"Build a team with diverse skills, shared energy, and people who are excited to collaborate." — Rampriya Sundaramoorthy
Tools and Environments
You'll have access to two hackathon instances, giving you full access to build across both:
Build tools for AI Assistants
- ToolSmith: describe, build, and test assistant tools through conversation
- EmployeeWorks: the AI assistant platform that puts your tools to work
Build ServiceNow applications
- Build Agent: make changes and iterate on ServiceNow applications
- Autonomous Engineer: plan and delegate a broader build
We'll run demos on the core tools during kickoff, and quickstart guides will be ready for use so you can get oriented fast.
A few ground rules:
- All work must be done on the hackathon-provided instances.
- All builds must be created during the event - no pre-prepared assets.
What to Bring
Keep it simple:
- Laptop and laptop charger
- Phone charger or power bank
- Optional: headphones, mouse, comfortable clothes, and a notepad if you're a tactile thinker
Want to connect to real business systems during your build? You can sign up for a free developer instance of popular tools ahead of time. Select mock APIs will also be available on-site.
We've got snacks, drinks, and power strips covered, so just bring yourself and your laptop.
Help and Support
Stuck on something? Product and technical experts will be on the floor throughout the day to troubleshoot and answer questions.
How to Submit
Your submission has two parts, both due by 7 PM PT on November 4th:
- The entry form: Your team leader heads to the hackathon portal (link shared at the event) and submits your official entry. Include a publicly accessible URL to your pitch video, and disclose any Store apps, Share apps, or plugins used.
- Your pitch video: A 3-minute video using your own screen recording software (Clipchamp works great and is free), that covers:
- At most 15 seconds introducing your team
- What you built and why
- A live demo of your solution
Pro tip: Have fun with it. Act out a scenario, add some humor, make it memorable! You're selling your product. Would you be enticed by your own pitch?
Judging
Judges will evaluate submissions across five criteria:
- Problem and impact: How important is the problem, and how much value could your solution create for its intended users?
- Execution: How well does your solution work from start to finish? Does it meet all requirements, including the 3-minute video limit and a fully completed submission form?
- User experience: How clear, intuitive, and easy to use is your solution?
- Innovation: How original and creative is your approach?
- Use of platform: How effectively does your solution use platform capabilities? Higher scores reward deeper use and builds that combine Build Agent and EmployeeWorks.
Judging panel to be announced soon.
Prizes
Prize details are still being finalized, so stay tuned. Winners will be announced during the morning keynote on November 5th.
Bookmark This Page
More details are coming as we get closer to November 4th, so keep this post handy for the latest. Feel free to drop any questions you may have in the comments! See you in San Jose!
Check out the now[dev]26 Hackathon webpage for more information!
