Cambridge RealityX Hackathon 2026

Organised by In³

X-Series · Applied Focused AI × XR Hackathon · Cambridge

Where Reality Meets Possibility

Integrating ideas and code to address real-world institutional and societal challenges through AI × XR technologies

March 7th – March 13th, 2026

About Cambridge RealityX Hackathon 2026

Cambridge RealityX Hackathon 2026 is a hackathon specially designed for both not just tech builders but also talents within other disciplinaries — including education, art, healthcare, business, humanities subjects, and many others.

Its core mission is to integrate ideas and code to address real-world institutional and societal challenges through AI × XR technologies.

RealityX is designed for builders, researchers, designers, and domain specialists across disciplines — from education and healthcare to social systems, commerce, and the creative industries. The programme focuses on rigorous problem framing, responsible AI × XR integration, and feasible solution pathways under real-world constraints.

Central Themes

Time-bound Applied Innovation Model

A structured sprint designed to support rigorous problem framing, solution development, and practical feasibility within real-life constraints across sectors such as education, healthcare, and public-facing systems.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Bringing together technologists, researchers, designers, and domain practitioners to co-design solutions grounded in context, ethics, and human use — rather than tool-led experimentation.

Solution-focused Outcomes

Emphasis on clearly articulated solution concepts, appropriate use of AI and XR, and feasible implementation pathways, shared through an open showcase and review process.

Exploration Areas

You will be selecting one of these tracks for your project

XR in Education

Explore how XR technologies can reshape the learning experience — from immersive historical reconstructions to AR-assisted classroom interactions — making abstract knowledge visible, tangible, and genuinely accessible to diverse learners.

XR in Healthcare

Explore the potential of XR in clinical and therapeutic contexts — from psychological treatment and rehabilitation training to surgical simulation and patient experience improvement — enhancing human wellbeing within real clinical constraints.

XR in Social Media

Explore how XR can redefine the boundaries of digital social interaction — creating more presence-rich connections, or addressing information overload and attention fragmentation in contemporary social media through new spatial interaction paradigms.

XR in Immersive Commerce

Explore how XR is transforming commercial experiences — from virtual try-ons and spatial merchandising to immersive brand storytelling and new retail interactions — creating deeper connections between consumers and brands.

XR in Arts & Design

Explore XR as a creative medium — from immersive art installations and spatial storytelling to collaborative design tools — allowing creativity to transcend physical limitations and open new dimensions of expression and experience.

Participation Details

Benefits of Participation

Prize Pool: £1,000+
Hands-on AI × XR Experience
Expert Mentorship
Pilot & Research Pathways
Interdisciplinary Networking
New Friendships

Who Can Join?

Everyone is welcome — both inside and outside Cambridge — as long as at least one member of your team can present onsite on 13 March 2026.

Apply individually or as a team
Team formation will be supported on and before Opening Day (7 March)
Interdisciplinary balance is encouraged
All backgrounds welcome: tech, education, healthcare, arts, business, and more!

Do I need XR development experience?

No. We welcome participants from all backgrounds, including:

Developers with XR experience (Unity, Unreal, WebXR, etc.)
Designers with interaction, spatial, or UX backgrounds
Domain experts focused on specific application areas (healthcare, education, commerce, etc.)
Participants without a technical background who bring a clear problem perspective and creative thinking

Diverse team compositions are consistently a hallmark of the strongest projects.

Event Timeline

Mar 7

Sat · Opening Day (Onsite)
Team formation & track intro

Mar 8

Sun · Track Selection &
Team Formation Deadline
11:59 PM

Mar 7–12

Innovation Sprint
Hybrid / Flexible Work Period

Mar 13

Fri · Final Expo & Showcase
Onsite

Location: University of Cambridge

Specific venue details will be shared with confirmed participants.

Onsite attendance required: 7 March (Opening Day) and 13 March (Final Showcase) — at least one team member must attend in person.

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