Creative Hackathon 2026
April 3 - 5
@ Parsons School of Design
PlayfulNYC Creative Technology Hackathon is a collaboration between the Creative Technology Club and the Innovation Center XR Lab.
Playful NYC is a two-track hack focused on building games and alternative controllers inspired by New York City. Participants will explore how play can emerge from urban spaces, movement, sound, density, and everyday systems — through digital games, physical interfaces, or hybrids of both. The goal is experimentation, creative risk-taking, and learning by making. No prior hackathon experience is required.
About the Challenge:
New York City is chaotic, dense, loud, playful, and full of unexpected interactions. This hack challenges you to reinterpret the city as a space for play.
You might turn a familiar NYC experience into a game mechanic, translate physical city behaviors into alternative inputs, or build a digital or physical system that captures the rhythm of the city. Literal and abstract interpretations are both welcome.
No previous hackathon experience required
This hack challenges you to reinterpret NYC as a space for play
Experiment, make creative risks, and learn by making.