{
  "id": 4926836,
  "title": "Preptember is here!! Plan a Fest for your local community.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/preptember-is-here-plan-a-fest-for-your-local-community",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-01T19:26:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/mlh/preptember-is-here-plan-a-fest-for-your-local-community-5ce3"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "September ushers in Preptember, a month focused on organizing local events and preparing for Hacktoberfest. This year, the event is taking a new direction, moving away from open-source contributions and focusing on community-building and education regarding open artificial intelligence. Hacktoberfest 2026 is moving into a new chapter, emphasizing the importance of learning and experiencing open-source AI tools and open-weight models in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.\n\nJess Lee, from Major League Hacking (MLH), shares that there will be over 300 in-person events, or \"Fests\" this year. For those interested in hosting an event, any team size or budget can participate. As a host, you will receive T-shirts and stickers, programming support, and promotion through the official Fests directory. Depending on the chosen Fest format, food and drink reimbursement may also be available.\n\nThere are two Fest formats to choose from: the Hacktoberfest Hack Day, a 3-12 hour mini-hackathon where participants create and submit projects, or the Hacktoberfest Meetup, which can be tailored to suit your community through talks, demos, or workshops. To host a Fest, first, select your format, then apply to host on the application form, providing details about your event and contact information. Although you do not need to have a venue locked in to begin, applications are approved on a rolling basis, with a response within a week. Upon approval, your event will be listed on the official Fest directory.\n\nAfter approval, focus on securing a venue, planning your Fest, and showcasing your swag. All Fest formats are eligible for Hacktoberfest swag, including t-shirts and stickers. As a host, wear your t-shirt proudly and share the swag with your participants, while keeping some for yourself. If hosting is not your thing, find a Fest near you or participate online. With a full schedule of online activities throughout October, there's no better time to get involved in Hacktoberfest 2026's new AI-focused chapter.",
  "summary": "September marks the official start of Preptember , a month dedicated to organizers planning local gatherings and getting ready for Hacktoberfest . This year, Hacktoberfest is entering a new chapter. We’re shifting away from open-source contributions and focusing on community-building and educating folks around open artificial intelligence. As the AI landscape rapidly evolves, we think it's more…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}