QHack Quantum Coding Championship
Xanadu's annual PennyLane quantum coding championship, October 16 to 23, 2026, with up to USD 67,000 in cash prizes.
Overview
QHack is Xanadu's annual quantum computing coding competition, powered by PennyLane, its open-source platform for quantum computing, quantum machine learning and quantum chemistry. It welcomes hobbyists, students and developers, from first-time quantum coders to researchers.
The 2026 coding challenges run October 16 to 23, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM ET, across algorithms, chemistry, applications and PennyLane basics. Participants compete solo or in teams of up to four; harder problems solved faster rank higher on the leaderboard.
QHack 2026 has its biggest prize pool yet: up to USD 67,000 in cash, with USD 15,000 for first, USD 13,000 for second and USD 11,000 for third. A registration referral competition (August 24 to October 23) pays USD 100 to the top 10 referrers. Registered participants get a self-paced masterclass series and Jupyter notebooks.
Who it is for
Open to hobbyists, students and developers worldwide; solo or teams of up to four. Full rules are in QHack's terms and conditions.
Check if you are eligible
Check your eligibility for QHack Quantum Coding ChampionshipAdmissions and application
Register on qhack.ai before the competition; there is no selection. Game time starts October 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET.
Benefits
- Up to USD 67,000 in cash prizes (USD 15,000 first place).
- Swag and exclusive badges.
- Free masterclasses and hands-on notebooks.
- A global quantum developer community.
Timeline
- August 24 to October 23, 2026: registration referral competition.
- October 16 to 23, 2026: coding challenges.
How to go about it
- Read what it asks for
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
- Have something to show
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
- Apply the way the program asks
The program has not published how to apply. Terms and dates change. Check the official page before you act.
What it pays
Cash prizes up to USD 67,000 in total; first USD 15,000, second USD 13,000, third USD 11,000. Registration is free per the page.
Questions about this program
What is QHack?
Xanadu's annual PennyLane-powered quantum computing coding championship.
When is QHack 2026?
October 16 to 23, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM ET.
How much can I win?
Up to USD 67,000 in cash prizes: USD 15,000 first, USD 13,000 second, USD 11,000 third.
Can I compete in a team?
Yes, solo or in teams of up to four.
Do I need quantum experience?
No. Beginners get a self-paced masterclass series and notebooks to prepare.
What are the challenge areas?
Algorithms, chemistry, applications and PennyLane basics.
Is it online?
Yes.
Is there a referral prize?
The top 10 referrers during registration (August 24 to October 23) win USD 100 each.
About Xanadu
Xanadu
Company
Builds photonic quantum computers and develops the PennyLane quantum software library.
Other programs by Xanadu
ProgramXanadu
Lists that include this program
List
Quantum computing VC programs
2 open now8 programs
Quantum Landing Pad (Munich)TUM Venture Labs
iQuHACK (MIT Quantum Hackathon)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (iQuISE)
Munich Quantum Valley and IMPRS-QST Doctoral FellowshipsMunich Quantum Valley
List
VC programs open for applications now
16 open now16 programs
1752vc Accelerate1752VC
Ambhasi: AI x Consciousness Research Residency (CIMC and Edge City)California Institute for Machine Consciousness (CIMC)- Quantum Landing Pad (Munich)TUM Venture Labs
From public sources
What the sources say about QHack Quantum Coding Championship
QHack 2026 runs October 16 through October 23 and uses PennyLane.
Source: QHack 2026 homepageQHack begins October 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.
Source: QHack 2026 homepageParticipants can compete solo or in teams of up to four.
Source: QHack 2026 homepageQHack challenge topics span algorithms, chemistry, applications, and PennyLane fundamentals.
Source: QHack 2026 homepageQHack is powered by the open-source PennyLane platform.
Source: QHack 2026 homepageQHack advertises up to $67,000 in cash prizes, plus swag and badges.
Source: QHack 2026 homepage
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