GitLab Life After Code Hackathon 2026

Life After Code is an online hackathon on Devpost run by GitLab, with Google Cloud and Anthropic as co sponsors. It has $45,000 in cash prizes. Entrants use the GitLab Duo Agent Platform to build agents and flows that handle the work after code is written, such as code review, security scanning, testing, compliance, deployment and monitoring.

There are two paths. In Path A you start a new project from scratch with its app, pipeline and automation. In Path B you import an existing MIT licensed open source project to GitLab and build the automation around it. Each path has prizes for the best assisted, supervised and hands off agent: $4,000, $4,000 and $5,000. Special prizes are $5,000 each for Most Stages Covered (two winners) and Most Environmentally Impactful, and $4,000 for Most Creative.

Individuals who have reached the age of majority where they live can enter, alone or in a team, and organizations can enter too. Residents of Brazil, China, Quebec, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk cannot take part.

A submission needs a public GitLab repository with an MIT license and visible pipeline history, a text description and a demo video under three minutes on YouTube. Projects deployed on Google Cloud can earn bonus points.

Registration opened on 29 September 2026. Submissions run from 5 October to 27 October 2026, 1:00 pm UTC. Judging runs until 14 November, and winners are announced around 16 November 2026. Judges score technical use of GitLab, design, potential impact and the originality of the idea.

Quick answers

What are the prizes?

$45,000 in cash prizes. It is paid as prizes to the winning entries.

When is the deadline?

The deadline is 27 October 2026.

Who can apply?

Individuals at least the age of majority where they live, teams and organizations. Residents of Brazil, China, Quebec, Russia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are excluded. Applicants from anywhere in the world can enter, unless the eligibility rules say otherwise.

Is it online or in person?

Online. You can take part from anywhere the rules allow.

How do I apply?

Through the official page at gitlab-transcend.devpost.com. The link is at the top of this page.

Can an existing project enter?

Yes, in Path B. It must be an MIT licensed open source project imported to GitLab and updated with agent automation during the submission period.

Does the code have to be public?

Yes. The GitLab repository must be public, carry an MIT license file and show its CI/CD pipeline history.