SmartAIthon 2026

The SmartAIthon - IEEE Smart Cities AI Hackathon 2026 is a multi-stage innovation challenge designed to bring together students, developers, and innovators to solve real-world urban problems using Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.

Participants will identify pressing challenges in areas such as traffic management, pollution monitoring, waste management, and urban safety, and build scalable AI-driven solutions.

The hackathon focuses on creativity, technical implementation, and real-world impact, encouraging participants to move from idea to working prototype.

This is an opportunity to showcase your skills, gain recognition, and compete with some of the brightest minds.

Themes
Participants can choose one of the following themes or propose their own innovative idea:
Smart Traffic Management using AI
Air Quality Prediction and Monitoring
Smart Waste Management Systems
Disaster Prediction and Alert Systems
Open Innovation (Any AI-based solution for urban challenges)

SmartAIthon Round -1 PPT Template
https://shorturl.at/RQlnX

SmartAIthon Round -1 PPT Submission link
https://bit.lt/smartaithon-1

Eligibility & Team Rules
- Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Team size: 1 to 4 members
- Cross-college teams are allowed
- A participant cannot be part of multiple teams

Judging Criteria
Innovation - 25%
Technical Implementation - 25%
Impact - 20%
Feasibility - 15%
Presentation - 15%

Stages and Timelines
25 Jun 26, 12:01 AM IST --> 20 Jul 26, 11:59 PM IST
Round -1 : Registration & Idea Submission
Round 1 focuses on identifying innovative and feasible AI-driven solutions for smart city challenges.
Participants are required to submit a project presentation explaining their idea, proposed solution, technical approach, and expected impact.
This round is completely free of cost and serves as the initial screening phase of the hackathon.
SmartAIthon Round -1 PPT Template
https://shorturl.at/RQlnX
SmartAIthon Round -1 PPT Submission Form
https://bit.ly/smartaithon-1

01 Aug 26, 12:01 AM IST--> 06 Aug 26, 11:59 PM IST
Round-1 : Shortlist Announcement
Shortlisted teams will receive Shortlist Announcement mail

01 Aug 26, 12:01 AM IST --> 15 Aug 26, 11:59 PM IST
Round -2 : Prototype Submission
Shortlisted teams from Round 1 must develop and submit a working prototype or MVP based on their proposed idea.

15 Aug 26, 12:01 AM IST--> 21 Aug 26, 11:59 PM IST
Round - 2 : Shortlist Announcement
Shortlisted teams will receive Shortlist Announcement mail

23 Aug 26, 10:00 AM IST--> 23 Aug 26, 06:59 PM IST
Round 3 – Final Presentation
Shortlisted teams will present their working prototype and solution before the judging panel through an online final presentation and live demo session.

25 Aug 26, 09:00 AM IST --> 25 Aug 26, 09:01 AM IST
Final Results & Winners Announcement
Top teams will be awarded exciting prizes and certificates.

Registration Opens
25 Jun 2026 - 12:00AM

Round -1 Idea Submission Deadline
20 Jul 2026 - 11:59PM

Round - 2 Prototype Submission Deadline
15 Aug 2026 - 11:59PM

Final Round - Online Presentation
23 Aug 2026 - 10:00AM

Final Result & Winner Announcement
25 Aug 2026 - 9:00AM

IEEE CIS / IEEE Smart Cities Members – ₹150 per team
IEEE Members – ₹180 per team
Non-IEEE Participants – ₹200 per team

Myleripalayam Village, Othakkal Mandapam Post, Coimbatore - 641032, Tamilnadu, India.