Following the success of the hackathon held in February 2026, OCAD University’s Office of Research & Innovation (ORI) is once again partnering with the Alianza Latina initiative to host the third edition of the Building Our Future in AI – The Latin@ Vibe Coding Hackathon.
Hosted by OCAD U, the multi-day event brings together Latin@ and allied participants from across Canada for networking, collaboration and rapid prototyping. Participants will use accessible AI tools to develop solutions to challenges and priorities identified by marginalized communities.
For OCAD U students and community members, the hackathon provides an opportunity to apply their research, creative and technical AI skills to community-informed projects with the potential for real-world impact and portfolio development. Students will collaborate with industry professionals, community members and experts, building valuable professional networks and gaining experience working in interdisciplinary co-development teams.
The event is supported by ORI, along with eCampusOntario, Lovable and various Latin American community partners and businesses. Together, these partnerships strengthen OCAD U's leadership in inclusive AI innovation, research and education.
Angela Bains, ORI’s special advisor to the VP of research said, "Building Our Future in AI demonstrates the power of bringing diverse communities, students, researchers and industry together in a fun environment to ensure that AI innovation is inclusive, community-driven and focused on creating meaningful real-world impact that can be applied to all communities."
No coding experience is required. Students and faculty are encouraged to join an existing OCAD U team or form their own. Those who cannot attend the event in person can join virtual sessions from anywhere in the world, while Toronto-based collaborators are invited to participate at OCAD U’s Toronto campus.
This year’s events begin with a virtual kickoff event on Wednesday, Oct. 28, via Zoom. A hybrid summit and final showcase will take place at 115 McCaul St. on the OCAD U campus. The full event schedule is available on the Building Our Future in AI website.
The 2026 edition of Building Our Future in AI will also feature a special Halloween event on Oct. 31, including a costume contest for participating hackathon teams. Teams are encouraged to coordinate group costumes that showcase their creativity. The costume contest will be judged separately from the awards recognizing the top three projects.
Most event tickets will be offered on a sliding scale to help cover food, hospitality and other event costs while keeping participation accessible. OCAD U students will receive a promotional code in their student email accounts. Community members for whom cost is a barrier are encouraged to contact Alianza Latina via email to discuss their options.
Event details and registration
