SharePoint Hackathon 2026: Join Mar 2-16

Key insights

• SharePoint Hackathon 2026 — March 2-16, 2026.
  Open global online event inviting developers, UX designers, and end users to build and showcase SharePoint solutions.
• Who can join — all skill levels welcome.
  You don’t need to be a developer: designers and non-technical creators can submit site customizations, demos, or video walkthroughs.
• Submission process — video-based entries via the official GitHub submission path.
  Plan your submission early; participants who submit a qualifying video earn a Credly badge.
• Categories & recognition — six submission categories covering agents, portals, dashboards, SPFx, and more.
  Winners receive awards and the top three in each category will be published in the SharePoint blog.
• Key technologies — focus on Copilot, AI agents, SPFx, Viva Connections, and SharePoint Embedded.
  Projects may range from no-code improvements to advanced custom solutions.
• Events & resources — live sessions, Q&A, and a discussion forum support participants.
  Attend scheduled streams and use the official GitHub guidance to prepare and submit your entry.

Overview

A new YouTube video published by Microsoft introduces the SharePoint Hackathon 2026, a two-week online event scheduled in March that invites a wide audience to participate. The video explains that no formal registration is required and that the event welcomes developers, UX designers, and end users who want to showcase designs, use cases, or integrations. In addition, it highlights the use of modern platform features such as Copilot agents and the SPFx framework as common building blocks for submissions. The presenters outline what to expect, how to submit entries, and where participants can find more information on the official hackathon hub.

The clip also lays out a clear agenda for live sessions and community interactions, including guided GitHub support and discussion forums. Furthermore, the video emphasizes the celebratory aspect: this hackathon ties into SharePoint’s 25th anniversary and aims to showcase both simple customizations and advanced intelligent apps. Presenters invite teams and individuals to submit short demo videos and promise community recognition for contributors. Finally, the introduction frames the hackathon as a learning and networking opportunity across skill levels.

How to Participate and Key Dates

The video provides practical guidance on participation and encourages teams to start planning early, even though registration is not required. It explains that submissions should be delivered via the designated GitHub submission channel and that they expect a short video demonstration from each entrant to explain their solution. In addition, the hosts walk viewers through the submission steps and point to a central hub for rules, deadlines, and technical guidance. They also list the live session schedule, which covers demos, technical deep dives, and Q&A slots throughout the hackathon period.

According to the announcement, the event runs across two weeks in March with multiple live streamed sessions and community forums for discussion. Viewers hear a clear timeline that supports both solo contributors and multi-person teams, and the presenters stress the benefit of checking the GitHub guidance early. The video further notes that submissions must meet the published rules and that teams should plan for the final submission deadline. Ultimately, the hosts encourage attendees to record thoughtful demos that highlight both design and function.

Categories and Awards

The hackathon divides entries into several categories to reflect different strengths, including work that focuses on SharePoint agents, out-of-the-box feature designs, Viva Connections dashboards, and extensible experiences using SPFx. Each category aims to surface a range of solutions from low-code site customizations to full developer-driven apps that incorporate AI and Copilot features. The video explains that participants who submit videos will receive a badge from Credly, and that top entries will receive recognition and awards. Moreover, the organizers plan to publish winners on the SharePoint blog to amplify visibility across the community.

The presenters describe that awards will highlight creativity, impact, and technical execution, and they promise more detailed prize information on the event hub. They also emphasize that recognition extends beyond winners: participants gain exposure through community channels and live events during the hackathon. Consequently, the format supports both experimentation and professional showcase opportunities. The video makes clear that judges will look for practical, well-explained solutions rather than perfect polish alone.

Benefits and Tradeoffs

Joining the hackathon offers hands-on learning with current SharePoint capabilities, and it provides a space to experiment with AI-driven experiences like Copilot agents. Participants can quickly prototype no-code solutions that solve everyday team challenges, and at the same time pursue deeper, developer-led innovations via SPFx and embedded apps. However, the video also points out the tradeoff between polish and scope: teams must balance building a feature-rich solution against the limited time for refinement and documentation. As a result, entrants should plan whether to prioritize a clear, demonstrable workflow or a highly engineered proof of concept.

Another tradeoff the hosts discuss involves design versus performance: a beautiful user experience can increase adoption, yet complex customizations may require ongoing maintenance and governance. Similarly, integrating AI agents can accelerate productivity but raises questions about data access and user privacy that teams must address. The presenters encourage transparent documentation of assumptions and dependencies to help judges understand real-world readiness. In this way, the hackathon fosters realistic choices rather than idealized prototypes.

Challenges and Judging Considerations

The video candidly notes several challenges that participants should expect, from packaging a clear demo video to meeting submission rules and preparing reproducible steps. Teams often struggle to condense complex ideas into a short presentation, so the hosts recommend focusing on the problem statement, the solution flow, and measurable benefits. Additionally, the judging process must fairly compare diverse entries, which requires clear criteria and attention to accessibility, security, and maintainability. To mitigate bias, the organizers plan to evaluate across multiple dimensions rather than relying on aesthetics alone.

Practical challenges also include coordinating across time zones, ensuring contributors have rights to shared assets, and handling dependencies on external services or experimental APIs. The presenters urge teams to manage scope tightly and to document any service limits or configuration steps that judges would need to reproduce results. Another important consideration involves governance: community-driven extensions can add value but may create administrative overhead in enterprise settings. Thus, entrants should weigh innovation against operational cost when designing their submissions.

In closing, the video functions as both an invitation and a roadmap: it outlines the structure, offers tips for clear submissions, and explains recognition paths such as badges and blog features. The hosts encourage participation from all skill levels and stress that meaningful ideas matter more than technical perfection. Overall, the hackathon aims to inspire practical, human-centered solutions that demonstrate how modern SharePoint capabilities can improve workplace experiences. Viewers are left with clear next steps and an open call to join the community effort.

Keywords

SharePoint Hackathon 2026, SharePoint Hackathon March 2026, SharePoint Online hackathon 2026, Microsoft 365 hackathon 2026, SharePoint developer hackathon, SharePoint solution challenge, Power Platform SharePoint hackathon, SharePoint community event 2026