UMB Hackathon 2026 brought energy, creativity, and a wealth of inspiring ideas to Banská Bystrica. The event brought together students, mentors from practice, experts, and partners with the aim of developing new solutions for tourism development in the Banská Bystrica region, with a particular focus on the unique potential of the Barbora’s route.
From first ideas to concrete solutions
The Hackathon kicked off on 12 March 2026 with a Pre-hackathon workshop, where participants were introduced to the themes, challenges, and to each other. Multidisciplinary teams were formed, and the first ideas began to emerge, which were further developed during the main hackathon day.
Day D: 12 hours of creativity, collaboration, and innovation
The main day – 19 March 2026 – was dedicated to intensive teamwork. Over the course of 12 hours, participants developed their ideas into concrete solution proposals. They worked on challenges focused on funding, marketing, as well as the broader potential of the Barbora’s Route.
Throughout the day, teams were supported by experienced mentors, who helped guide their ideas, asked critical questions, offered new perspectives, and supported them in developing feasible solutions.
Teams showcasing the potential of young people
Hackathon participants demonstrated a high level of creativity, commitment, and teamwork. The solutions developed reflected real needs of the region and brought a wide range of interesting ideas – from digital tools and marketing concepts to new experiential formats.
The event culminated in team presentations before an expert jury and the selection of the best proposals.
A shared experience that does not end with the event
UMB Hackathon 2026 was not only about competition, but above all about collaboration, connecting people, and creating ideas with real impact. We believe that many of these solutions will continue to be developed and will find practical application.
Our sincere thanks go to all participants, mentors, partners, and organizers who contributed to creating the unique atmosphere of this event.
The article has also been published on the Banícke poklady website: https://banickepoklady.eu/en/articles/article/umb-hackathon-2026-napady-ktore-hybu-regionom
