DQ Labs: Innovation & Design Hackathon 2026 (DH26)

Innovation & Design Hackathon 2026 (DH26)

A Unique Hackathon like no other. Transform your Tomorrow.

Harness the Synergy of Empathy, Design Thinking and AI at DH26

Registrations are OPEN

DH26's Unique Specialty :

Unlike other hackathons and competitions where a participant is thrown into an unknown competitive environment, DH26 is committed to mentor and guide the participants. This is delivered through a step-by-step process with design thinking, empathy and AI tools at its forefront. To truly extract value from this competition, participants will be provided with mentorship under the guidance of esteemed Design Experts.

While everyone will benefit from shared wisdom and diverse insights, rest assured that competition entries will be evaluated based on their respective participant categories, ensuring fairness and relevance in judging.

Cash Prize:

Total Cash Pool of 3,00,000 INR awaits!

Top Participants stand a chance to score Internship Opportunities

Eligibility:

At DH26, we embrace a wide spectrum of participants across several categories, including :

School students in Class 8 - 10
School students in Class 11 & 12
Post 12th gap year, UG & PG students
Teachers, Principals
Home Makers & Families
Professionals & Startup founders

Event Timings:

Online event from 10 AM to 6 PM IST held on

1st & 2nd August 2026 (Saturday & Sunday)

Agenda & Event Schedule

Why Attend DH26?

If you have ever felt the urge to create something impactful but felt unsure about where to start, DH26 is your answer.

By joining this event, you'll learn powerful ways to turn your ideas into real things and set yourself up for big success. It's like getting the right tools to build your dreams!

"Transform Your Tomorrow"

When you participate in DH26, you're not just attending another event; you're taking charge of your future. Here's the blueprint for your transformation:

Empathy-Driven Insight: Through our specially curated sessions, you'll learn to see the world through the eyes of others, identifying problems and gaps that many overlook. This empathy-driven approach is the key to unlocking real-world problems and innovating impactful solutions.

Design Thinking Workshops: Experience hands-on training in design thinking. From problem identification to ideation, prototyping and testing, you'll master a process that innovators worldwide swear by. This methodology empowers you to craft solutions that are not just creative, but effective and user-centric.

AI Toolkits: The future belongs to those who harness technology. With guided sessions on AI tools, we ensure you're equipped to analyze vast amounts of data, spot trends, and accelerate your solution-building process.

Networking & Mentorship: Interact with visionaries, industry leaders and peers. This isn't just about learning; it's about building a community that can support and collaborate with you in your future endeavors.

Safe & Inclusive Digital Environment: Online safety is our priority. With participants from varied backgrounds, we've taken measures to ensure a respectful, secure and inclusive online space for all.

This event goes beyond the scope of just 2 days, it's about setting you on a trajectory of lifelong impact. Your tomorrow starts at DH26.

Judging Criteria:

1st Level Screening Parameters

Relevance to the theme
Innovativeness of idea
Overall presentation
DTM followed
Total Likes, shares, comments

2nd Level Screening Parameters

Innovation and Creativity
Impact and Relevance
Feasibility and Practicality
Scalability and Sustainability
User Experience and Accessibility

Terms & Conditions of Participation

DH26 is organized to encourage a sense of learning skills and utilizing the same to solve real world problems. The spirit of competition is incorporated to encourage positivity & enthusiasm in all participants. All participants are requested to share in these ideals.
To qualify for the prizes / digital certificates, all participants will need to attend the full 2 day event and submit 5 images and 1 video output in the format specified at the end of Day 2.
The cash prize for the winners will be disbursed within 15 days upon submission of the Testimonial video after the result announcement. This will be verified along with their ID Card.
Team members cannot be changed post 21st July 2026.
ID Card may be required to validate team members' participating in the correct category. If any discrepancies are observed, the team will automatically be moved to Professionals / Families category.
Judges decision are final and request for re-considerations will not be entertained.
Mentors are available to those who need additional assistance without any liability associated.
The organizer's (DQ Labs, EuroSchool Whitefield, The Deens Academy), Partners, Volunteers, Etc. will not be liable for any personal injury, loss, outcomes, results, etc. with the organization of DH26.

Past DH events -

DH25, themed 'PRODUCTIVITY ≠ BUSYNESS,' was a melting pot of brilliance and foresight, drawing 600+ teams and 235+ finalists. The event, utilizing design thinking, saw diverse minds conceptualize solutions for making Indian students a powerhouse of efficient progress and creative problem-solving for the next generation.

DH25 - All Category Winners presentations can be found here.

Design Career Fair 2025

DH 25 Award Ceremony can be found here.

DH 25 Over all winner Presentation -

"Overall Winner" Position Shared between :

Team Number : 11063 - NeuroEdge

Team Member : 23029 - Saathi

DH24, themed "Viksit Bharath," was a melting pot of brilliance and foresight, drawing 500+ teams and 180+ Finalists. The event, utilizing design thinking, saw diverse minds conceptualize solutions for making India Developed by 2047 or Viksit Bharat 2047.

DH24 - All Category Winners presentations can be found here.

DH 24 Over all winner Presentation - SURI

DH23, themed "Safe Bharath," was a melting pot of brilliance and foresight, drawing 500+ teams and 180+ Finalists. The event, utilizing design thinking, saw diverse minds conceptualize solutions for making India or Bharat safe with the overall winner conceptualizing a concept of Kamala Guardian which can be used for keeping lakes clean and beautiful.

DH23 - All Category Winners presentations can be found here.

DH22, themed "India@100," was a melting pot of brilliance and foresight, drawing 1800 participants from 300+ cities across India. The event, utilizing design thinking, saw diverse minds conceptualize solutions for India's vibrant tapestry, with the winning team envisioning asteroid farming and developing an app for monitoring, showcasing the boundless potential for transformative change.

DH22 - All Category Winners presentations

DH 21 - In 2021, under the banner of "Reuse - Refuse," DH21 became a beacon of innovation, attracting over 1200 visionaries from 250+ cities. Using design thinking, participants, guided by industry experts, developed impactful solutions, with the winning team creating a sleeve for disposable surgical masks to minimize waste, illustrating a commitment to a sustainable future.

DH21 - All Category Winners presentations

DH 20 - Themed "PREPARING FOR THE NEXT WORLDWIDE DISASTER," DH20 was a powerful convergence of resilience and strategic foresight. The event brought together 302 participants from 74 schools across India, creating a high-stakes environment for future-ready innovation.

By leveraging the design thinking framework, these young problem-solvers moved beyond theoretical planning to conceptualize practical, life-saving solutions. Their goal? To ensure the next generation isn’t just reacting to crises, but is equipped with the blueprints to lead through them with stability and ingenuity.

DH20 - All Category Winners presentations

DH 19 — Themed "URBAN EVOLUTION: DESIGNING THE FUTURE CITY"

DH19 was a visionary exploration into the intersection of human-centric design and the rapid acceleration of technology. With a focus on the core pillars of Design, Fashion, and Architecture, the event challenged participants to reimagine the urban landscape, transforming cities into ecosystems of flexibility and ease.

By integrating near-future technological advancements, these innovators moved beyond traditional boundaries to develop products and services that prioritize seamless living. Their mission was clear: to leverage tech-infused aesthetics and structural ingenuity to solve modern urban complexities. DH19 served as a laboratory for improving the quality of life, proving that the cities of tomorrow will be defined by their ability to adapt to the people who inhabit them.

DH19 - All Category Winners presentations

DH 26 - Building on SEVEN years of invaluable feedback from mentors and participants, and integrating the latest tech innovations, we've revamped our event for wider impact. Our audience has grown, now welcoming ages 13 to 65, and we've expanded language offerings to five (English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil), ensuring broader accessibility. A significant inclusion is the integration of AI tools, enhancing productivity within the design thinking framework.

Simplifying our approach, we've narrowed down from 12 categories to just two: Products and Services. Traditional team mentoring has evolved into panel discussions, and our new 'Platinum Participants' feature offers exclusive access to the live Zoom platform. This not only offers intimate access to panelists but also enhances online safety.

As an annual online event, DH expects unprecedented participation this year, capping at 2,500 entrants. This limited availability means early birds will reap the benefits. With our prize pool swelling from 1 lakh to 3 lakhs, now's the perfect time to seize this opportunity and shape your future.