Where do you actually participate in an AI hackathon?
Do you go to a venue, meet other participants, and build something together?
Or can you join from home?
It turns out, both are possible!
So far, I've signed up for four AI hackathons.
Three of them were in-person events, where participants gathered at a physical venue.
The fourth, the Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon, is different. It combines online activities with in-person presentations.
And the schedules are completely different too!
Some hackathons last just a few hours. Others continue for weeks or even months.
I hadn't realized there were so many different ways to participate.
So I thought I'd share what I've experienced and learned about online, in-person, and hybrid AI hackathons.
What's the Difference Between Online, In-Person, and Hybrid Hackathons?
There are three main formats to know.
| Format | How it works |
|---|---|
| Online | You participate remotely, usually from home or wherever you have an internet connection |
| In-person | Participants gather at a physical venue |
| Hybrid | The event combines online activities and in-person sessions |
One thing worth mentioning: "in-person" doesn't mean working without the internet!
Even at physical venues, participants use online tools, AI services, and the internet to develop their projects.
It simply means people are physically together.
And hybrid hackathons can work in different ways.
Some let you choose between attending online and in person. Others begin online and move to a physical venue for later stages.
The Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon I'm currently participating in is closer to the second type, although not every team member needs to attend the in-person stages.
My First AI Hackathon Ran From Friday to Sunday!
My first AI hackathon started on a Friday evening.
We had to submit our projects for judging around noon on Sunday.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Technically three calendar days, but really more like two days and a bit!
It was an in-person event.
We gathered at a venue, met other participants, and worked on building an app.
Because it was my first hackathon, that experience shaped my idea of what hackathons were supposed to look like.
You form a team, develop an idea, build something, and present it, all within a short period.
I thought that was the standard format.
But my next experiences were quite different.
Some Hackathons Last Just a Few Hours!
My second hackathon took place during a single weekday evening.
It started and finished on the same day.
The third one was also a one-day event, held on a Sunday from late morning into the evening.
So even though they were all AI hackathons, the schedules were very different.
| My experience | Format | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First hackathon: AIAU Craft Day | In-person | Friday evening to Sunday |
| Second hackathon: AI Founders' Mindset Hackathon #001 | In-person | One weekday evening |
| Third hackathon: AI Film Hackathon in Tokyo - September 2026 | In-person | One Sunday, late morning to evening |
| Fourth hackathon: Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026 | Online + in-person | August 20 to November 7, including registration and the final presentation |
The first three involved going to a venue and participating alongside other people.
But the time commitment ranged from a few hours to an entire weekend.
So if you've been thinking, "I'd love to try a hackathon, but I can't set aside several days," there may be shorter events that fit your schedule.
On the other hand, longer hackathons may allow much more time for planning, development, and improving your project.
My International AI Hackathon Started Entirely Online!
My fourth event is the Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026.
And it's very different from the ones I'd attended before.
The orientation was online.
Team matching was online.
The initial discussions and idea proposal submission were online too.
In fact, my own team was formed online.
Instead of meeting someone at a venue and saying, "Hi, nice to meet you!" we found teammates, communicated, and developed our project through online interactions.
That's quite different from my first three hackathons.
And this event doesn't end with a single project submission.
There are several selection stages.
From an A4 Proposal to the Top 16!
The first major selection stage was based on a written idea proposal.
We submitted a three-page A4 proposal explaining our project idea.
The organizers then selected the Top 16 teams.
And our team made it into the Top 16!
That means we're now preparing for the next stage: an in-person pitch in front of judges.
The pitch is scheduled for October 24 at Tokyo Innovation Base.
It's an exciting change after working together primarily online!
This is also a much larger event than the short hackathons I'd experienced before.
According to the participation figures available to me, there are 284 participants and 75 team leaders.
If there's one team leader per team, that suggests there may be around 75 teams. However, I haven't confirmed the official number of participating teams.
Either way, being selected for the Top 16 is a major milestone for us!
The Schedule Runs for More Than Two Months
Here's the timeline for the Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon 2026.
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration | August 20 – September 19, 2026 |
| Team matching | September 20 – 27 |
| Idea proposal | September 28 – October 5 |
| Top 16 selection | October 6 – 15 |
| Pitch Day | October 24, at Tokyo Innovation Base |
| Build & mentorship | October 25 – November 6 |
| Grand Finale & Demo Day | November 7, at Tokyo Innovation Base |
After Pitch Day, the Top 8 teams are scheduled to advance to the next stage.
Those teams will continue developing their projects with mentorship and prepare for the final presentation.
At the Grand Finale, they'll demonstrate the AI agent products they've built.
From the opening of registration to the final presentations, the event spans roughly two and a half months.
That's completely different from a hackathon that starts on Friday and finishes on Sunday!
As I'm writing this, our team has reached the Top 16, and we're preparing for the October 24 pitch.
What happens next?
We don't know yet!
Not Everyone Has to Travel to the Venue
Here's something interesting about the hybrid format.
Although the pitch and final presentations take place at a physical venue, not every team member is required to be there.
A team representative can deliver the pitch and handle the final demonstration or presentation.
That makes a big difference for international teams.
Some participants live in Vietnam and participate remotely.
They can contribute to their team's project without necessarily traveling to Japan for every stage.
I really felt the international nature of the event after our Top 16 selection.
The organizers contacted us about attending Pitch Day, and the message included questions about visas.
Visas!
That caught my attention.
Of course, not everyone needs a visa to enter Japan. Requirements depend on each person's circumstances.
But seeing visa-related questions in a hackathon attendance message made me think, "Wow, this really is an international event!"
We're collaborating across borders online, while the organizers also have to consider international travel for the in-person stages.
That's something I hadn't experienced at my earlier, locally held hackathons.
Fully Online Hackathons Exist Too!
I've also heard about hackathons that take place completely online.
Someone I met told me they'd participated in an online hackathon in the United States and won an award.
From what I remember, that event ran over quite a long period.
I wasn't a participant, though, so I don't know its exact schedule or how every stage was organized.
But that conversation introduced me to another possibility.
You can participate in a hackathon, build something, submit your project, and be evaluated without ever going to a physical venue.
That's pretty exciting!
If you don't live near a city where hackathons are held, online events may open up opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be available.
You might even be able to join an international hackathon from Japan.
What Are the Advantages of In-Person Hackathons?
One of the biggest advantages is meeting people face to face.
You can talk directly with teammates, get to know other participants, and sometimes ask someone nearby for help.
There's also something exciting about the atmosphere.
Everyone is in the same place, building things, exchanging ideas, and trying to finish within the deadline.
I really enjoy that energy!
On the other hand, you have to travel to the venue.
Depending on where the event is held and when it takes place, participating can be difficult.
You may also need to consider transportation costs or accommodation.
What Are the Advantages of Online Hackathons?
The biggest advantage is flexibility.
You can participate without traveling to a physical venue.
You may also have the opportunity to work with people from different cities or countries.
That's exactly what I've been experiencing with my international hackathon team.
Of course, online collaboration comes with its own challenges.
You have to communicate clearly, coordinate schedules, and sometimes work across time zones.
Finding teammates online can also feel different from meeting people at a physical event.
I experienced that myself while looking for people to join my team.
But the possibility of working with people you wouldn't otherwise meet is a major attraction.
What About Hybrid Hackathons?
Hybrid events can combine the benefits of both formats.
You might work remotely during the planning and development stages, then meet in person for an important presentation.
But there's an important detail to check before signing up.
Does everyone need to attend the physical event, or can one team representative attend?
In the Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon, a representative can handle the in-person pitch and final demonstration.
Other team members can continue participating remotely.
Not every hybrid hackathon follows that approach, though.
Some events might require all participants to attend certain sessions.
So it's worth checking the rules carefully, particularly if the venue is far away or in another country.
Which Format Should Beginners Choose?
If you're considering your first AI hackathon, I'd look at a few practical details.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is physical attendance required? | You may need travel or accommodation arrangements |
| Can you participate entirely online? | Some events require in-person attendance at later stages |
| How long does the event last? | A few hours and several weeks require very different commitments |
| How are teams formed? | You might meet teammates at the venue or find them online beforehand |
| What must you submit? | Some events require code and demos; others begin with written proposals |
| How does judging work? | Presentations may happen online or in front of judges at a venue |
| Does every team member need to attend? | A representative may be enough for some stages |
And one more thing!
Online doesn't automatically mean easier, and in-person doesn't automatically mean harder.
The participation format and the difficulty of the actual project are different things.
A beginner-friendly event at a physical venue might be easier to join than a demanding, fully online competition.
What matters is whether the event fits your interests, experience, and available time.
AI Hackathons Come in More Formats Than I Ever Expected!
When I first started participating in AI hackathons, I imagined people gathering at a venue and building something over a weekend.
That was my starting point.
But after signing up for four different events, my understanding has changed.
Some hackathons last only a few hours.
Others run for months.
Some are held entirely in person.
Others begin online and bring selected teams to a venue for presentations.
And some can be completed entirely online.
Right now, my team is preparing for the in-person pitch after making it into the Top 16 of the Vietnam Japan AI Hackathon.
The experience has already been very different from my first hackathon, and we're not even at the final stage yet!
If you've been curious about hackathons but thought you had to travel somewhere or spend an entire weekend at a venue, it's worth exploring the different formats.
Maybe an online event would suit you.
Or perhaps you'd enjoy meeting people and building something together in person.
There isn't just one way to participate in a hackathon.
And discovering the format that works for you might be the first step toward joining one!