NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2026 Local Lead Interest Form

This is not the Local Lead Application. The 2025 Local Lead Application is closed.

If you fill out this interest form, we will notify you when next year's Local Lead Application opens in February 2026.

This interest form is open to the public. Every individual who completes this form will receive a notification via email in 2026 that the Local Lead application has been opened to the public.

If you have any questions about this form or the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, please contact info@spaceappschallenge.org.

Local Lead Benefits

• Serve as a Local Lead alongside the NASA Space Apps Global Organizing Team to develop the world’s largest annual global hackathon, with participants and supporting teammates in over 160 countries/territories around the world.
• Champion the NASA Space Apps Challenge in your local community, recruiting local coders, scientists, students, artists, storytellers, designers, engineers, data experts and others who may participate.
• Immerse yourself and serve as a thought leader in your city’s space, tech, innovation, and creative communities.
• Support noteworthy participants in their hackathon journeys and nominate top projects for judging at the global level, with Global Nominees, Global Finalists, and Global Winners being recognized by NASA.

Local Lead Responsibilities

• Coordinate Local Event logistics - Local Leads are responsible for providing, arranging and funding the logistics for their Local Event from their own resources, including venue, food, supplies, swag and prizes, as they may choose at their discretion. Local Leads are also responsible for considering accessibility and connectivity logistics.
• Recruit supporting Local Organizing Team Members - Each Local Lead is responsible for recruiting, training, and delegating work to needed personnel to run their Local Event.
• Recruit participants from their community to join the Local Event. These participants will create projects during the event and submit them to the NASA Space Apps Challenge website.
• Follow NASA International Space Apps Challenge branding guidelines.
• Support participants through their entire hackathon journey and encourage project submission.
• Recruit Local Judges and complete Local Judging.
• Recruit Local Collaborators, as needed. Each Local Lead is responsible for their own collaborator outreach and funding efforts.

Local Lead Requirements

• Be at least 18 years or older at the time of application
• Host in only one city
• Host only in a city/town (no regional affiliation)
• Follow NASA’s China funding restrictions regarding affiliation:
  Prohibited bilateral activity with China means participating, collaborating, or coordinating bilaterally with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including Hong Kong and Macau, or a PRC-owned company, in relation to participation in SpaceApps. “PRC or PRC-owned Company" means any department, agency, or instrumentality of the government of the People's Republic of China and any governmental subdivision thereof, including Hong Kong and Macau, any company owned by the People's Republic of China, or any company, university, or similar institution incorporated under the laws of the People's Republic of China or governmental subdivision thereof, including Hong Kong and Macau.
  
  Interested in being notified about the 2026 Local Lead Application? Complete the public interest form below. You will be notified via email in February 2026 when the application is available.