Friday, 28 August
IN-PERSON: TechIreland National AI Challenge 2026
Friday, 28 August | 12 – 4PM
Ireland’s 2-week AI Challenge enabling developers to tackle real-world problems through collaboration with the industry and leading experts.
National AI Challenge 2026
Build the next generation of AI solutions with Ireland’s innovation ecosystem.
The TechIreland National AI Challenge returns for 2026, running from 28 August to 14 September.
Over two weeks, developers, engineers, founders, students, researchers, AI enthusiasts and business professionals from across Ireland will collaborate to solve real-world challenges using AI and autonomous agents.
Working in teams, you’ll build AI-powered products, workflows and agentic systems that address genuine business and societal opportunities, supported by mentors from Ireland’s leading technology companies, research centres, startups and investors.
This is the third year of the TechIreland National AI Challenge, and is a collaboration of community development agencies and partners – without whose support and energy, none of this would be possible.
2026 Theme ‘AI & Agents: Strategy, Processes and Roles’
As AI agents move from experimentation to deployment, organisations are rethinking how work gets done.
This year’s Challenge explores how AI can reshape:
- Business strategy
- Operational processes
- Customer experiences
- Workforce productivity
- Public services
- Sustainability
- Healthcare
- Insurance and Financial Services
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Enterprise Software
- and much more.
Whether you’re building autonomous workflows, AI copilots, decision-support tools or entirely new AI-native products, this is your opportunity to create solutions that matter.
What’s in store for the 2026 Challenge?
- Real industry problem statements from leading Irish and international organisations
- Greater focus on AI Agents and Agentic Workflows
- Build with the latest AI models and developer platforms
- Mentoring from Ireland’s AI ecosystem including leading technology companies, investors, founders, researchers and innovation agencies
- Collaborate with participants across Ireland through our nationwide hub network
- Showcase your solution at your local hub before finalists progress to the TechIreland National AI Meet 2026
Why Take Part?
- Learn from industry experts
- Meet future co-founders, employers and collaborators
- Gain hands-on experience building production-ready AI applications
- Explore cutting-edge AI tools and platforms
- Develop commercial, technical and pitching skills
- Become part of Ireland’s growing AI community
Whether you’re an experienced AI engineer or just beginning your AI journey, there’s a place for you.
Timelines:
- 20th July: Registrations open (FREE!)
- 9th August: Registrations close.
- NOTE: Register as an Individual and you can form teams by 21 Aug
- NOTE: Please select where you heard about the Challenge in the Order Form dropdown.
- 12th August: Kick-off Webinar. Guidelines and Communications platform invite sent to all.
- 12th August to 21st August:
- – AI Challenge webinars (tech, sector problems, commercial insights, your ideas)
- – Network on the Communications Platform – hustle and build your Team
- – Designate a team leader
- – 5-9 per team. All members based in Ireland or Northern Ireland
- – Pick your topic/theme from our list or bring your own idea
- – Pick your preferred location from our list of Partner Hubs
- 24th August 5:00 pm: Deadline to send us details of team members
- 28th Aug @ 12:00 am: Google, OpenAI keys sent to Team Leaders
- 13th Sep @ 2:00 pm: Deadline to send final slides, presentations
- 14th Sep @ 9:00 am: Arrive at your AI Challenge venue – practice your pitch/demo, network with mentors and experts – and win hearts! Top teams announced 16th Sep.
- 24th Sep: TechIreland National AI Meet 2026, Galway. Finalist teams showcase their solutions live at Ireland’s flagship AI conference in front of industry leaders, investors, policymakers and the wider AI ecosystem.
Connected Hubs is a central driver of the Irish National Hub Network, a Government of Ireland initiative aimed at establishing and strategically expanding a network of interconnected hub facilities throughout the country. Connected Hubs is a Government of Ireland initiative under Our Rural Future. Connected Hubs is managed by the Western Development Commission in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
