Over 250 participants, 76 projects, international teams, four competition categories, and 24 hours of intensive work – this is what defined the third edition of HackCarpathia 2026, the largest hackathon organized in Rzeszów to date.

This year’s event also gained a strong international dimension, as the city welcomed more than 20 students from universities affiliated with the SUNRISE network, including the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, European University Cyprus, and Università Politecnica delle Marche.

The Grand Finale took place at the W. Siemaszkowa Theatre, where the best teams presented their solutions. The main prize was awarded to CombAIns from the Warsaw University of Technology for their application “Be Ready,” a project addressing the important and still under-discussed topic of women’s health. The app is designed to help young women prepare for their first gynecological visit, also supporting parents and partners.

A notable highlight of the event was the Audience Award, which was won by a team representing Technische Universität Ilmenau. Their project stood out for its strong reception among attendees, showcasing the importance of communication and user-focused design.

Participants worked intensively across four key categories: MedTech, Cybersecurity, Open, and AeroTech. The high level of competition confirmed that HackCarpathia continues to grow in both scale and quality, attracting top young talent and fostering interdisciplinary teamwork.

HackCarpathia is not just a 24-hour event – it is part of a broader ecosystem that begins with local eliminations and continues through opportunities for further development. It remains a platform where innovation meets real-world challenges, and where the next generation of creators and problem-solvers takes shape.