Bring hardware
Boards, sensors, radios, drones. Bring the kit you have and make it do something new. Online teams can build hardware too and show it on camera.
SensorsRadiosDronesRoboticsMicrocontrollers
Canada'sDefence TechHackathon
Two days in Edmonton to build what keeps the North watched, connected and ready.
Register — 14–15 Nov 2026Official trailer
Edmonton + online · 14–15 Nov 2026
The event
Canada is rebuilding its defence, and it needs Canadian teams that can build fast. Edmonton is full of those people: developers, engineers, students, founders, veterans and serving members. They rarely end up in the same room. On November 14 and 15, they will.
Canada's Defence Tech Hackathon is two days of building real solutions to real problems, whether that's software, hardware or both. Join us in person in Edmonton, where you'll find partner booths, mentors and plenty of time to meet the people building Canada's defence tech, or take part online from anywhere in the country.
We build tools that see, connect and protect. You don't need a security clearance or a defence background. Bring a laptop and an idea, or just yourself and we'll find you a team.
What you'll buildBring hardware.
Bring hardware.
Write software.
Or both.
Come with a soldering iron, a laptop, or both. Build whatever answers the challenge. It only has to work by the demo.
Write software
Apps, models, maps, dashboards, tools. If it runs, it counts. All you need is a laptop, wherever you are.
AppsAI and dataMapsSimulationSecurity
+ Or both: pair the hardware with the software that makes sense of it. Mixed teams are welcome.→ Join waitlist
Partner with us
Back the builders
Canada’s Defence Tech Hackathon runs November 14–15, 2026 in Edmonton and online across Canada. Sponsors and partners put their name beside the developers, engineers, students, founders and veterans building on real Canadian defence and security problems. No clearance or defence background needed to take part.
01 Title Partner
- “Presented by” billing on everything
- Top logo placement on this site, banners and Luma
- Opening remarks slot
- Two judge or mentor seats
- Expo booth where the venue allows
- Hiring access, with attendee consent
02 Prize / Platform Partner
- Name a prize or platform
- Logo on this site, banners and Luma
- One judge or mentor seat
- Booth where the venue allows
- Hiring access, with attendee consent
03 Supporting Partner
- Logo on this site, banners and Luma
- One mentor seat
- Named in the event recap
04 Community Partner
- Logo on this site
- Named in our thank-you to partners
In-kind support counts too: venue space, Wi-Fi and AV, food, hardware, cloud credits or prizes count toward a tier at their equivalent value.
Or email hello@cdth.ca
Get involved
Be in the room.
November 14–15, 2026 · In person in Edmonton, or online from anywhere in Canada · Venue to be announced
Questions? hello@cdth.ca
RegistrationRegister on Luma
Registration for builders runs on Luma. You'll get event updates, the venue announcement and calendar invites automatically.
How will you join?In person in Edmonton, or online from anywhere in Canada.
→ Register on Luma