News

Microsoft Adds AI Hackathon to VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ

• By David Ramel
• 05/14/2026

Microsoft is adding an AI hackathon to this summer's VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ conference, positioning the event as a way for development teams to leave Redmond with working code rather than just session notes.

The VSLive! Microsoft AI Hackathon 2026 will run alongside the July conference on Microsoft's campus, with developers learning during the day and building at night with Microsoft engineers and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) in the room.

"We're adding the VSLive! Microsoft AI Hackathon 2026, a focused, hands-on build event that runs alongside the conference," Microsoft's Jim Harrer said in the announcement. "Your developers learn during the day, then build at night, on the Microsoft campus, with Microsoft engineers and MVPs in the room. They leave with working code, not just notes."

AI Stack and Project Categories
The event is aimed at teams working with Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI, GitHub Copilot and agent-based development. Microsoft said daytime conference sessions will cover Visual Studio, C#, .NET, Azure, Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI, GitHub Copilot, agent-based development and modern application patterns, while the evening hackathon sessions will focus on applying those concepts to working projects.

Hackathon entries can include C# applications, .NET services, internal developer tools, agent-based workflows, line-of-business applications or creative AI projects. Participants will declare a primary category, with an optional secondary category. Microsoft listed the categories as Microsoft .NET Powered Business Applications, Best AI Agent or Workflow Automation, Best Azure OpenAI / LLM-Powered App, Best GitHub Copilot Integration and Creative Applications.

Projects will be judged on architecture and design, security and safety, relevance to real business problems, user experience and execution, and practical use of Microsoft AI technologies. Microsoft said the criteria reflect the requirements enterprise teams face when shipping AI-enabled software that must remain secure, maintainable and reviewable.

Schedule, Prizes and Eligibility
The hackathon will take place at Microsoft Commons Mixer, Building 98 at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond. The schedule starts Tuesday, July 28, with kickoff, team formation, idea pitches, planning and the first coding sprint from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. A second build session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by awards and selected demos Thursday, July 30, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. before the Thursday keynote.

Microsoft said confirmed judges and proctors include Brian Randell, Phil Japikse, Eric Boyd, Allen Conway and Microsoft representatives. Awards total up to $25,000, including a $6,000 Hackathon Grand Champion prize, along with additional team, solo and category awards. Each project or team may win one monetary prize, with additional sponsored awards possible closer to the event.

The event is in-person only and participation is capped. Developers attending VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ can add hackathon participation during registration, while Microsoft also listed a hackathon-only option for community attendees not attending the full conference.

Microsoft said participants may compete solo or in teams of up to four, with developers attending alone able to form teams onsite. Participants retain full ownership and rights to their project intellectual property.

The VSLive! series of developer conferences is presented by the parent company of Visual Studio Magazine.