The Best Overall category represents the pinnacle of achievement at PlutoHacks. This award is reserved for the project that truly rises above the rest, combining innovation, technical execution, creativity, and impact to deliver something exceptional. All teams, regardless of experience level or category, are automatically considered for Best Overall, making it the most competitive and prestigious award of the hackathon.

The Best Overall prize is $320 in cash and prizes per team member.

Each year, PlutoHacks introduces a new theme to inspire hackers, and for 2026, it's Build • Protect • Innovate! This category challenges teams to create innovative solutions that tackle real-world problems, strengthen security, and push technology's boundaries.

Judges will be looking for hacks that creatively incorporate the spirit of Build • Protect • Innovate, demonstrating how their projects solve meaningful problems, improve security or resilience, and introduce fresh ideas that could shape the future.

Best Build • Protect • Innovate Theme Prize is $250 in cash and prizes per team member.

The First Time Hacker award is dedicated to celebrating newcomers at PlutoHacks. We know taking on your very first hackathon can be intimidating, and this category is designed to recognize and encourage those who are just getting started. To qualify, at least half of the team must consist of first-time hackers. The award highlights creativity, effort, and potential—showing that you don’t need years of experience to create something impactful and exciting.

The First Time Hacker prize is $180 in cash and prizes per team member.

Sometimes a project doesn’t quite fit into the theme or take the top overall prize, but it still stands out as something truly special. That’s where the Honorable Mention comes in. This award exists to shine a light on a project that demonstrates impressive creativity, ingenuity, or impact, and deserves recognition in its own right. It’s our way of ensuring that great work never goes unnoticed, even outside the main categories.

The Honorable Mention prize is $25 in cash and prizes per team member.

Create an engaging experience for football, tennis, or motorsport racing that connects users across any of our mobile apps with fans at the stadium. Explore how technology can move beyond the screen to create shared moments, encourage interaction, and bring fans together within the live event experience.​

 $ 300 prize value / per team member