Applications for Junction 2026 close on Sunday 25 October 2026. The hackathon runs from 13 to 15 November 2026 at Hype Areena in Kivenlahti, Espoo, Finland. You apply online on the organiser's platform, entry is free if you are accepted, and you can apply alone or as a team of up to four.
Junction 2026 at a glance
- Dates: Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, with Junction Week pre-events from Monday 9 November
- Venue: Hype Areena, Kivenlahti, Espoo. It is not in Helsinki itself, but the organisers say it is about 30 minutes by metro from Helsinki Central Station
- Scale: the organisers expect 2,000 builders from more than 100 countries
- Prizes: EUR 100,000 in total, with the breakdown still to be published
- Cost: free for accepted participants
- Teams: one to four people
All of these details come from the official Junction 2026 site.
Application deadline: the exact time
The two official pages do not agree on the exact closing time, so do not leave your application until the last evening. The event site says applications close at midnight on 25 October 2026, GMT+3. The application page on hackjunction.app lists 22:55 on 25 October, Helsinki time, with the offset shown as UTC+3.
The clocks also change that day. Finland and the rest of the EU leave summer time early on Sunday 25 October, so by that evening Helsinki is on UTC+2, not UTC+3. Depending on how the platform handles the switch, the real cut-off could fall around 21:55 to 23:00 Helsinki time (20:55 to 22:00 CET). Treat the earliest of these as your deadline, and if you can, submit by Saturday 24 October.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the Junction 2026 event page on hackjunction.app and click the registration link.
- Fill in the application form. Applications are reviewed, so a submission alone does not guarantee a place.
- Choose whether to apply solo or with teammates. Solo applicants can find a team on site.
- Wait for the decision. Accepted participants who need a visa invitation letter get instructions on submitting their details afterwards.
The organisers have not published a scoring rubric for applications. They describe the event as open to anyone who builds, whatever their background or experience. They also say participants are mainly aged 18 and over, but they do not give a strict minimum age.
What makes an application stronger
Junction has not said what its reviewers score, so the points below are common sense rather than official criteria:
- Link to things you have actually built: repositories, shipped products, design portfolios or hardware projects.
- Be specific about your role. A designer, a backend developer and someone who can pitch together make a balanced team.
- If you plan to use the new Hardware Lab, mention any electronics, robotics or embedded experience.
- Write every answer yourself and keep it short.
Travel grants and visa letters
Travel grants are closed for 2026. They were offered on a limited basis to strong international applicants, and the deadline was 6 September. Invitation letters for visa applications go out in batches on 11 October, 25 October and 1 November 2026, and only to accepted participants. If you need a visa, check processing times now, because the last batch leaves less than two weeks before the event.
The weekend itself
According to the preliminary schedule, doors open at 16:00 Helsinki time (15:00 CET) on Friday 13 November, and the opening ceremony starts at 18:00 (17:00 CET). Final submissions are due at 10:00 on Sunday 15 November, the final ceremony begins at 14:00 and the event ends at 17:00, all Helsinki time (CET plus one hour).
Judging has three stages. Challenge partners pick winners for their own tracks. A face-to-face peer review then selects five finalists, who pitch on stage to a grand jury. The challenge tracks had not been announced at the time of writing.
New in 2026 is a Hardware Lab run with Arduino, with Arduino UNO Q boards, 3D printers and LeRobot arms for physical AI and robotics projects. Teams keep ownership of what they build, and submissions are released under the MIT licence.
Where to sleep and what to bring
The venue stays open around the clock for the 48 hours, but there are no dedicated sleeping areas. The organisers point to discounted rooms at partner hotels nearby. They have not published a packing list, so check the FAQ and the event Discord nearer the date.
How Junction fits into Slush week
Slush takes place in Helsinki on 18 and 19 November 2026, three days after Junction ends, so international participants can cover both in a single trip. For other dates, see our calendar of European startup and tech conferences, more conference coverage and stories about builders in our Makers section.
Frequently asked questions
When is Junction 2026?
From 13 to 15 November 2026 at Hype Areena in Kivenlahti, Espoo, Finland. Junction Week pre-events start on 9 November.
What is the Junction 2026 application deadline?
Sunday 25 October 2026. The event site says midnight (GMT+3) and the application platform shows 22:55, and the clocks change that day, so the cut-off may come as early as 21:55 Helsinki time. Aim to submit by 24 October.
Does Junction 2026 cost anything?
No. Participation is free for accepted applicants. The only paid ticket is the Investor Pass for investors and scouts.
Can I still get a Junction travel grant?
No. The travel grant deadline was 6 September 2026, and grant applications are closed.
