Terms and Conditions

Last updated: 1 January 2026

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your participation in HackEurope events. By submitting an application or participating in any HackEurope event, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. About HackEurope

HackEurope is a hackathon series operated by PATCH Youth Company Limited by Guarantee ("HackEurope", "we", "us", "our"), a company registered in Ireland.

Event Details:

HackEurope 2026 will take place on the 21st of February at the following locations:

  • Dublin, Ireland - Trinity Business School (400 participants)
  • Paris, France - CentraleSupélec (300 participants)
  • Stockholm, Sweden - Norrsken House (300 participants)

Specific times and venue details for each location will be provided to accepted participants via email and on our website.

2. Eligibility

To participate in HackEurope, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old at the time of the event
  • Be currently enrolled as a student or have graduated within the past 12 months
  • Complete the application process and be accepted as a participant
  • Comply with these Terms and our Code of Conduct

We reserve the right to verify eligibility and may request proof of student status.

3. Application and Acceptance

3.1 Application Process

  • All applications must be submitted through our official website
  • Applications are reviewed by the HackEurope team
  • Acceptance is at our sole discretion and is not guaranteed
  • We may consider factors including: technical skills, experience, diversity, and application quality

3.2 Acceptance and Confirmation

  • If accepted, you will receive an email notification
  • You must confirm your attendance by the deadline specified in your acceptance email
  • Failure to confirm may result in your spot being offered to another applicant
  • Acceptance is non-transferable

3.3 Withdrawal

  • You may withdraw from the event at any time by notifying us at team@hackeurope.eu
  • We encourage you to withdraw as early as possible if you cannot attend, so we can offer your spot to another applicant
  • There is no penalty for withdrawing

4. Event Participation

4.1 Attendance

  • Participants must check in at the event venue at the designated time
  • Failure to check in may result in forfeiture of your spot
  • You must be present for the duration of the event to be eligible for prizes

4.2 Team Formation

  • Participants may compete individually or in teams
  • Maximum team size: 4 members
  • Teams may be formed before or during the event
  • All team members must be registered HackEurope participants
  • Team changes after project submission are not permitted

4.3 Project Requirements

All projects must be built from scratch during the hackathon.

You may not submit projects that were started before the event.

You may use:

  • Pre-existing libraries, frameworks, and APIs
  • Publicly available datasets
  • Any tools or resources provided by sponsors

You may not use:

  • Code written before the hackathon specifically for your project
  • Pre-built applications or substantial code bases

4.4 Project Restrictions

Projects must not:

  • Violate any laws or regulations
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights of others
  • Contain malicious code, malware, or security exploits
  • Promote violence, hatred, discrimination, or illegal activities
  • Involve weapons, dangerous materials, or harmful content
  • Violate our Code of Conduct

We reserve the right to disqualify any project that violates these restrictions.

5. Code of Conduct

All participants must adhere to the HackEurope Code of Conduct (available at /code-of-conduct).

Key principles include:

  • Treat all participants, organizers, sponsors, and volunteers with respect
  • No harassment, discrimination, or bullying of any kind
  • No use of sexualized language or imagery
  • No deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome attention
  • Respect the venue, equipment, and property
  • Follow instructions from HackEurope staff and venue personnel

Violations may result in:

  • Warning from organizers
  • Disqualification from prizes
  • Immediate removal from the event without refund
  • Ban from future HackEurope events
  • Reporting to appropriate authorities if applicable

6. What We Provide

HackEurope provides to all confirmed participants:

  • Venue access for the duration of the event
  • Meals and refreshments during the event
  • Wi-Fi and workspace
  • Access to mentors and workshops
  • Opportunity to present projects to judges
  • Eligibility for prizes

6.1 Travel Reimbursement

  • Travel reimbursement is available for select applicants only
  • Eligibility and reimbursement amounts are determined by HackEurope at our sole discretion
  • If you are eligible for travel reimbursement, you will be notified in your acceptance email
  • Reimbursement requires: submission of valid receipts, attendance for the full duration of the event, and compliance with our reimbursement process and deadlines
  • Reimbursement is not guaranteed and is subject to available budget

6.2 What We Do Not Provide

HackEurope does not provide:

  • Transportation to/from the venue (except for reimbursement where applicable)
  • Travel insurance
  • Equipment (bring your own laptop and devices)

7. Prizes and Judging

7.1 Prizes

  • Prizes may include cash awards, sponsor credits, physical products, and other rewards
  • Prize categories and amounts will be announced at the event
  • Prizes are awarded at the sole discretion of judges
  • Prize distribution may vary by event location

7.2 Judging

Projects will be judged by a panel of sponsor representatives and industry professionals.

Judging criteria will be announced at the event and may include:

  • Technical complexity and innovation
  • Design and user experience
  • Presentation and pitch quality
  • Practical applicability
  • Use of sponsor technologies (for sponsor-specific prizes)

Judges' decisions are final and binding.

HackEurope organizers do not influence judging outcomes.

7.3 Prize Eligibility

To be eligible for prizes, you must:

  • Submit your project by the deadline
  • Be present for project demonstrations and judging
  • Attend the closing ceremony
  • Comply with all event rules and Code of Conduct
  • Have built the project during the hackathon (not before)

7.4 Prize Distribution

  • Winners will be announced at the closing ceremony
  • Prize collection details will be provided to winners
  • Some prizes may be distributed after the event
  • Participants are responsible for any tax obligations related to prizes in their jurisdiction

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Your Projects

  • You retain full ownership of all intellectual property in projects you create during HackEurope
  • We do not claim any ownership rights to your code, designs, or ideas
  • You are free to continue developing, commercialising, or open-sourcing your projects after the event

8.2 License to HackEurope

By participating, you grant HackEurope a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to:

  • Display, demonstrate, and photograph your project during the event
  • Use your project name, description, and images for promotional purposes
  • Feature your project in event recaps, social media, and marketing materials

This license does not grant us ownership or the right to use your actual code or build upon your project.

8.3 Open Source

  • We encourage (but do not require) participants to open-source their projects
  • If you choose to open-source your work, you determine the license terms
  • Sponsor prizes may have specific requirements about open-sourcing or technology use

8.4 Third-Party IP

  • You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to use any third-party code, APIs, assets, or data in your project
  • You must comply with all applicable licenses and terms of service
  • HackEurope is not responsible for IP infringement by participants

9. Photography, Video, and Media

9.1 Consent to Recording

By participating in HackEurope, you consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded during the event.

9.2 Use of Media

You grant HackEurope and our sponsors the right to:

  • Use photographs, videos, and recordings containing your likeness
  • Publish such media on our website, social media, and marketing materials
  • Share media with sponsors and media partners
  • Use your name in connection with such media

9.3 Opting Out

If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed:

  • Notify organizers at check-in
  • We will provide you with an opt-out badge
  • We will make reasonable efforts to exclude you from photos and videos
  • However, we cannot guarantee you will not appear in any media due to the nature of the event

10. Liability and Insurance

10.1 Assumption of Risk

You acknowledge that participating in HackEurope involves inherent risks, including but not limited to:

  • Personal injury
  • Property damage or loss
  • Fatigue from extended working hours
  • Interaction with other participants

10.2 Insurance Coverage

  • HackEurope maintains general liability insurance covering the event
  • This insurance covers accidents and injuries that occur at the venue during official event hours
  • Participants are encouraged to maintain their own health insurance

10.3 Limitation of Liability

HackEurope is a free event organized by students for students. To the fullest extent permitted by law:

  • HackEurope, its organizers, sponsors, partners, and volunteers are not liable for any damages arising from your participation, including personal injury, property damage, or lost data
  • You participate at your own risk
  • We strongly recommend maintaining your own health insurance and travel insurance

Important: Nothing in these Terms excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or anything else that cannot be excluded by law.

10.4 Your Responsibility

By participating, you agree to:

  • Take reasonable care for your own safety and belongings
  • Follow all venue rules and organizer instructions
  • Not hold HackEurope responsible for lost or stolen items
  • Maintain your own insurance (health, travel, equipment)

10.5 What This Means

In plain English: HackEurope is free and run by volunteers. We have insurance and will do our best to keep everyone safe, but you're responsible for your own belongings and wellbeing. If something goes wrong, we're not liable unless it's due to our negligence.

11. Personal Data and Privacy

Your personal data will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which can be found at /privacy-policy.

Key points:

  • We collect data necessary to organize the event and assess applications
  • Accepted participants' data will be shared with sponsors
  • You have rights under GDPR including access, correction, and deletion
  • See our full Privacy Policy for details

12. Event Changes and Cancellation

12.1 Our Right to Modify

We reserve the right to:

  • Change event dates, times, or venues with reasonable notice
  • Modify the event schedule or format
  • Limit the number of participants
  • Cancel the event due to circumstances beyond our control

12.2 Notification

  • We will notify participants of significant changes via email
  • We will make reasonable efforts to provide advance notice
  • Check your email and our website regularly for updates

12.3 Cancellation by HackEurope

If we must cancel the event:

  • We will provide notice as soon as reasonably possible via email
  • Since HackEurope is a free event, we cannot reimburse any travel or accommodation costs you may have incurred
  • We recommend purchasing refundable travel and accommodation where possible

13. Prohibited Conduct

In addition to our Code of Conduct, the following is strictly prohibited:

  • Cheating or attempting to gain unfair advantage
  • Submitting work that is not your own
  • Accessing networks, systems, or data without authorization
  • Disrupting the event or interfering with other participants
  • Violating venue rules or policies
  • Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the event
  • Bringing weapons or dangerous items to the venue

Violations may result in immediate disqualification and removal from the event.

14. Sponsor Interactions

14.1 Sponsor Challenges and Prizes

  • Sponsors may offer specific challenges or prizes
  • These may have additional terms and conditions
  • Accepting sponsor prizes may require agreeing to sponsor terms
  • You are not obligated to participate in sponsor challenges

14.2 Recruitment

  • Sponsors may use the event for recruitment purposes
  • You are under no obligation to interview or engage with sponsors
  • Any employment or contract negotiations are solely between you and the sponsor
  • HackEurope is not responsible for sponsor recruitment practices or outcomes

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct, constitute the entire agreement between you and HackEurope regarding your participation.

15.2 Amendments

We may update these Terms at any time by posting updated Terms on our website. Continued participation after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

15.4 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

15.5 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ireland. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

15.6 Language

These Terms are provided in English. In the event of any conflict between an English version and a translation, the English version shall prevail.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

By applying to or participating in HackEurope, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.