Agency 2026 - Ottawa

(Live stream details to be shared closer to the event, we will have a virtual link available for remote participants.)

(We have space for up to 90 hackathon participants in person, with virtual participation available for everyone else. Confirmed in-person participants will be notified directly. The remote link will be available for everyone.)

NEW! Agency 2026 Ottawa — Lunch & Learn Info-Session (Wednesday, April 22nd, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM MST)

A 60-minute virtual session for anyone attending, considering, or curious about Agency 2026 Ottawa on April 29. Walk through the 10 challenges, the tools and datasets you'll have access to, how teams are formed, and what a winning build looks like. Bring questions.

Agency 2026 – Ottawa is a one-day AI hackathon bringing together public sector leaders, industry, and innovators to explore new approaches to social spending and accountability.

Participants will use modern AI tools and emerging agentic technologies to develop solutions to a live challenge focused on improving transparency, insights, and outcomes in government.
The event is designed to:
Showcase what’s possible with applied AI in government
Encourage new ideas and approaches to complex public challenges
Provide a platform for teams to build, demonstrate, and share their work
Strengthen collaboration across jurisdictions, sectors, and disciplines
Teams will present their work at the end of the day, with selected participants recognized through awards. The event will bring together hyperscalers and leading AI companies, alongside the Minister of Alberta Technology and Innovation and federal, provincial, and territorial ministers and deputy ministers.

What to Bring

To get the most out of the day identify a team of 3-5. Participants should come ready to build and prepared with:
A laptop (HDMI-compatible) and charger
Access to your preferred AI tools or accounts (e.g., API access, development environments)
Any software or setup you typically use for rapid prototyping
Headphones (optional, for focused work)
We will provide access to datasets and supporting resources during the event.
Participation is limited. Additional details will be shared with confirmed attendees at the event.

Purpose: To provide context on the event and outline how vendors can participate and prepare.

Event Overview

This is a national, invite-only AI hackathon hosted by the Government of Alberta, focused on practical applications of AI in government delivery and accountability
The event will run as two parallel experiences:
Hackathon teams building solutions in real time
Live industry demos and presentations for attendees
Industry demos and hacking will occur simultaneously, with participants and senior officials moving between both
Audience
The event will include:
Federal and provincial government leaders (including Ministers and Deputy Ministers)
Senior public sector officials
Academic participants and students
Industry representatives
Demos should therefore be accessible, practical, and relevant to public-sector use cases
Expectations for Demos
Focus on applied, hands-on use of AI, particularly agentic or autonomous systems
Demonstrate how your technology can help governments:Analyze data
Improve decision-making
Identify inefficiencies or outcomes
Design demos to be:
Interactive and engaging
Easy to understand in a short timeframe
Relevant to real-world government challenges
Note: This is not a traditional showcase. The emphasis is on collaboration and experimentation, not polished sales presentations.
Vendor Role: Supporting the Hackathon
We are looking for vendors who can contribute to the hackathon environment by enabling participants to build and test solutions in real time.
This may include:
Providing APIs, datasets, or AI models that participants can access and use
Offering platforms or development environments (e.g., cloud, agent frameworks, orchestration tools) to support rapid prototyping
Supplying pre-built applications, accelerators, or starter kits that teams can build on or extend
Making available sandbox environments, credits, or pre-configured access to reduce setup time
Offering technical support or subject-matter guidance to teams using your tools
Vendors should ensure their tools and services are:
Easy to access and use within a one-day hackathon
Low-friction to onboard
Relevant to real-world problem solving