Google opens applications for Warsaw student AI hackathon

The September 15 event is open to second- and third-year bachelor's students in computer science or related fields at Poland-based universities, with applications closing September 1

Google Poland's Student AI Hackathon will take place at its Warsaw office on September 15, 2026

Google Poland has opened applications for an in-person student AI hackathon at its Warsaw office, giving selected university students a day to develop and pitch applications using Google AI Studio and other developer tools.

The Student AI Hackathon will take place on September 15, 2026, from 9:00 to 19:00 Polish time at Google Warsaw, The Hub. Participants will work in teams, moving from ideation and mentoring into four hours of prototype development before presenting their projects to a panel of Google judges.

Google sets a fairly open technical challenge for the teams. Its event information states: "Build an application using a programming language of your choice supercharged by our latest developer tools and Google AI Studio."

There is also a clear recruitment component. Google is positioning the hackathon as an opportunity for students to learn about its 2027 internship and graduate roles before the autumn recruitment cycle, alongside the technical work and mentoring.

Aleksandra Furtak, PhD Recruiter at Google, said in a LinkedIn (https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/news/tag/LinkedIn ) post that participants would be able to "Get hands-on with real-world AI challenges" and "Learn directly from Google experts."

Who can apply

The application window is narrower than a general student hackathon. Google says registration is intended for bachelor's or undergraduate students currently in their second or third year of computer science or a related field at a university based in Poland.

Applicants must submit an updated CV through the event registration process and provide Google with access to view it.

Once registration closes, Google says it will assess the submitted information and contact everyone who expressed interest within a week to confirm whether they have been selected. The event is in-person only, with shortlisted participants due to receive further information closer to September 15.

From ideation to a judged prototype

The morning schedule includes introductions, an ideation session, and mentoring and feedback from Google engineers. Following lunch, teams have from 13:00 until 17:00 to code and develop their prototypes.

Projects must be submitted by 17:15, followed by an hour of presentations and judging. Google says entries will be assessed on technical prowess, product design, innovation, teamwork, and realistic business impact.

Engineers will provide guidance on architecture, debugging, and product strategy during the hackathon. Google says the highest-performing teams will receive Google hardware devices and other prizes, while all participants will receive event merchandise.

The company is also using the event to give students information about upcoming employment opportunities, describing one element of the program as a chance to "Gain a front-row seat to learn more about our upcoming 2027 Internship and Graduate opportunities ahead of the autumn recruitment cycle."

Applications for the Google Student AI Hackathon remain open until September 1, 2026, ahead of the in-person event in Warsaw on September 15.