We are coming to the end of another year, which means many of us are planning festivities and spending time with our friends, family and loved ones…and it is also time for the annual element14 Holidays Hackathon!
Create an electronics project themed around the Holidays and what they mean to you to be in with a chance of winning one of several prizes. Read on to check out the prizes, how to win, and the all-important submission deadline...
Your submission can be themed around Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Buddhist New Year, the winter solstice, or, if the only belief you have is in The Force, then this is equally valid.
Example projects from last year’s Holidays hackathon include:
- An electronic elf
- An interactive mini Zen garden
- Musical, motion-activated wreath
The choice is completely yours!
THE PRIZES
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Don't worry if a prize is out of stock in your region or does not have the right plug for you. We can ship from global stocks, include a plug adaptor, or find a local equivalent of a prize.
HOW TO WIN
To be in the running to win a spot and be able to choose one of the three prizes for the category you have won…submit a write-up here on the element14 Community sharing how you built your holiday-themed electronics project and demonstrating how it works by midnight UK time on Sunday 11th January 2026.
You can post a project you have in progress, a new one for this competition or one you haven't posted about before but already completed.
The project could be a gift to a friend, a festive decoration, something that helps you throw an epic party, the choice is completely yours as long as it contains electronic components and you explain how it relates to what the Holidays mean for you.
There are many years of earlier holiday competition entries to take inspiration from but you can check out last year’s submissions to get an idea of what is expected.
THE DATES
| Competition Phases | Dates |
|---|---|
| Build Period | 21st Nov 2025 - 11th Jan 2026 |
| Projects Due | 11th January 2026 |
| Winners Announced | 16th January 2026 |
| Prizes Shipped | January 2026 |
THE RULES
Submit your creation as a project using the button below. Whatever electronics project you share with the Community:
- Explain step-by-step how you built it.
- Explain how your creation relates to the theme of creating a Halloween-related project using electronic components.
- Originality, innovation, and technical merit are all considered when evaluating each project.
- Demonstrate your project's capabilities with a video and pictures. High-quality images and videos are always appreciated.
Submit An Entry
Use the forum here to discuss your progress, challenges and solutions with other participants
Go To The Forum
Check out the full Terms and Conditions below, happy creating!
What do you have planned?
Be sure to tell us in the forums.