HowdyHack 2026
Landing
Date: October 24–25, 2026
Location: Texas A&M University
About
About HowdyHack
HowdyHack is a 24-hour, themed, beginner-focused hackathon exclusively for Texas A&M students, designed to showcase TAMU's diverse range of ideas in a collaborative environment. At the event, you'll have the opportunity to create your own software and hardware products with teams of up to 4 that wow judges and win prizes.Go gig 'em!
Location
MSC 2400
730 Olsen Blvd,
College Station, TX 77845
Parking
Parking details will be announced closer to the day of the event.
Team Information
After you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know you're good to go. You can either apply with a team yourself, or find one during our team building event on the day of! This event is designed to form well-rounded teams that bring together diverse strengths and perspectives.
Application Information
Applications are considered on a rolling basis; an application being submitted does not guarantee a spot in the hackathon. We have a limited space at the MSC, so we kindly ask you to arrive early on the day of the hackathon.
Hardware Information
For the first time ever, HowdyHack will be offering a hardware track with prizes! This track kicks off on October 16th, giving teams a full week to build their projects before the main event.
FAQ
When is the deadline to apply?
The deadline for registration is October 11 at 11:59 PM. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so please try to apply early!
How much experience do I need?
Absolutely zero! We want you here because you have a passion for creating, not because you're the most experienced hacker on the block. We'll have a bunch of resources including workshops and mentors to help beginners get started.
Who can attend?
Any Texas A&M undergraduate or graduate student who is at least 18. Regardless of your experience, education, or background, as long as you are excited about learning, building, and having fun, we'd love for you to attend.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. Nada. Zilch. It's completely free for all accepted hackers. To make it even better, we'll be giving out a ton of swag to every in-person hacker, and prizes to our winners.
Will there be workshops or talks?
Of course! We will have workshops running throughout the whole event. We will release the complete schedule on the website closer to the event.
Do I need to stay at the MSC the entire time?
No, but you must be present at check-in and the awards ceremony with your team to receive prizes. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How do teams work?
Teams are limited to 4 hackers. You don't need to have a team before the event or have one at all, but hacking with friends is more fun! There will be plenty of time after the opening ceremony to form teams if you don't have one yet.
Plagiarism
All projects must be original and created during the hackathon. Any team found to be in violation of this rule will be disqualified from the competition. Your codebase should no more than ~30% reused from existing projects on GitHub, Kaggle, etc. Use of AI such as ChatGPT or Copilot is completely fine.
Waitlist
We will have a waitlist line for students who are not accepted. After 10 AM, we will admit people from the waitlist line until the MSC capacity has been reached. Please come early for a higher chance of being admitted to the event as it is first come, first serve.
If you were not accepted or waitlisted, unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate you at the event. However, we encourage you to apply to TAMUhack in the spring!
More questions?
Email us with questions, comments, or concerns at hello@tamuhack.com
When is hardware judging?
Hardware judging will take place in-person at HowdyHack on Sunday, October 25th. Hardware and software judging occur at the same location and time. See our schedule for details.
How does the hardware track at HowdyHack work?
The hardware track begins on Saturday, October 17th, a week before HowdyHack. Participants will collaboratively design, build, and prototype hardware-based solutions to be judged at the event. Additional details will be released as the event date nears.
Hardware hackers are still required to check in to HowdyHack on October 24th and are encouraged to stay for food, swag, and day-of activities.
I want to participate, but I don't have any hardware. What should I do?
TAMUhack will provide dedicated hardware components for hackers on a first-come-first-serve basis. Details will be released in the upcoming weeks.
NOTE: Hackers are not limited to the resources we provide; using personal/external hardware is allowed.
Can I participate in both the software and hardware tracks?
At this time, a team can only participate in one track, either software or hardware. The tracks will be judged separately by specialists in the respective field.
When can I start working on my hardware project?
Teams may begin working on October 17th. Hardware participants are still required to check in to the event on October 24th. Hardware judging will take place in person on October 25th.
Where can I specify that I want to participate in the hardware track?
There is a question on the application that asks if you want to participate in the hardware track. If you change your mind before applications close, you can log back in and edit your application. Similar to software, hackers are allowed to apply and work in teams of up to 4.