events

AI Genesis Hackathon 2026

AI Genesis is a hybrid hackathon co-organized by Dubai conference brand /function1 and the AI builder community lablab.ai, billed by its organizers as the largest AI hackathon in the Middle East. The online build phase runs October 26 to No

Starts

2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Ends

2026-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Organizer

/function1 & lablab.ai

Location

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

AI Genesis is a hybrid hackathon co-organized by Dubai conference brand /function1 and the AI builder community lablab.ai, billed by its organizers as the largest AI hackathon in the Middle East. The online build phase runs October 26 to November 2, when participants worldwide form teams and develop projects with mentor support. Selected teams then gather in Dubai for an on-site build day on November 2 and live on-stage pitching and awards on November 3, held at the /function1 AI Conference and Exhibition 2026. Six tracks span AI agents and automation, security and AI safety, decentralized AI and Web3, human and AI collaboration, creativity and the arts, and industry-specific solutions. Organizers project participation in the thousands online, with several hundred hackers on-site, and note that travel and accommodation are not covered. Applications are submitted through the lablab.ai platform, where the full schedule and rules are posted. The event continues a prior AI Genesis edition that lablab.ai and /function1 ran as a regional flagship, and participants can compete solo or in teams.