Terminal X26 FAQ

Six hours to build something real, with mentors on the floor and sponsor teams from Toronto judging live. Every selected team also gets a shot at a real prize pool and a seat at Connections, the evening dinner where the prizes are presented and the results are released.

Yes. University students are the group Terminal X26 is built for.

Yes. Terminal X26 is open to all ages, and teams can mix high schoolers and university students. If you're under 18, confirm you have a parent or guardian's permission to attend.

A little helps. Teams are selected on what they can realistically ship in 6 hours. You do not need hackathon experience, and self-taught builders are welcome.

Length and format. Terminal X26 is one day: 6 hours on the clock and everyone home the same evening. Up to 25 teams of 3 to 10, one problem statement, live demos, no slides. Hack the North runs over a weekend; their own sites carry their dates, size, eligibility and format.

Teams run 3 to 10 people, from anywhere. You do not need to already know your teammates before you apply.

Registering reserves your application, not a place. Up to 25 teams will be selected after registration closes. Only 25 teams fit in the room, so apply early.

There is no team-matching tool on this site. If you want to take part and do not have a team, email events@cantutor.ai and say so; placing solo applicants with teams before registration closes is to be confirmed. The team leader registers everyone at once, and it is free.

Build the best web app you can ship. The problem statement is handed out at the start of the day, so nobody spends the morning deciding what to make.

Location: Toronto, venue TBD, on Saturday, November 28, 2026.

A laptop and its charger. Teams build a web app, so bring whatever you build on. Your 5-digit access code from the confirmation email. The check-in desk searches on it. Your team: 3 to 10 people, registered by the leader before Nov 14. Food will be available during the day.

The room is not booked yet, so step-free access and other accommodations are not yet confirmed. Email events@cantutor.ai with what you need and we will reply.

Toronto, venue to be announced. Parking details are not confirmed until the room is booked; transit is the safer plan.

Food will be available. Dinner is served at Connections in the evening.

The winning team takes $1,500 in total prize value, second place $500 and third place $200, and every other selected team gets one free month of CANtutor AI Pro per member. Prizes are presented at the Connections dinner the same evening, where the hackathon results are also released.

Judged on what runs, not on what the slide says. The working web app is the submission; a mock-up or a deck is not. Judges also look at how well the app answers the problem statement and whether the scope fit 6 hours. Each team gets 5 minutes in front of the judges, live, no slides. The weights are to be confirmed; the full criteria are on the Rules page.

The working assumption is that teams keep what they build; the exact terms are to be confirmed before registration closes.

Yes. Be respectful, build your own work during the clock, follow the venue's rules, and tell an organiser if something is wrong. Exact wording is to be confirmed before registration closes. The full text is on the Rules page.

No. Open to all ages: university students, high schoolers, self-taught builders, and anyone who wants six hours and a deadline. If you're under 18, confirm you have a parent or guardian's permission to attend.

Applying with a team is free. A Connections ticket, for the closing dinner, is paid and priced at checkout. Use the code CANTUTORAI for 40% off.

Registering a team is free, so there is nothing to refund if a team is not selected. For a Connections pass: Payment reserves your spot pending review, not a confirmed ticket. We approve Connections tickets by hand, and anyone we cannot fit is refunded in full. Refunds for a change of plans are handled by email and the terms are to be confirmed; write to events@cantutor.ai.

Connections is the closing dinner of Terminal X26, from 7:00 p.m. the same evening at a separate Toronto venue. Dinner with every team, founder and guest in the room. First, second and third place are announced and presented in front of the whole room. The final hackathon results are announced to the whole room at once. Startup founders, investors and the CANtutor AI team, here to meet the people who built something.

At the Connections dinner on the evening of the event. The hackathon results are released there and the $2,200 prize pool is presented to the winning teams in front of the whole room.

Anyone with a ticket. Open to all ages: university students, high schoolers, self-taught builders, and anyone who wants six hours and a deadline. Every member of a selected team needs their own Connections ticket, and you do not have to be on a team to buy one.

Buy one at the Register page, one ticket per person. Use the code CANTUTORAI at checkout for 40% off. Connections tickets are reviewed by hand, and anyone we cannot fit is refunded in full.

Connections is at a separate downtown venue. Location to be announced. Ticket holders are emailed the address as soon as the room is signed.