UW-Madison Hosts 24-Hour MadHacks Hackathon
Students from UW-Madison and other universities build projects in teams of up to four during the weekend event at Morgridge Hall.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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UW-Madison students compete in MadHacks, a 24-hour hackathon held at Morgridge Hall, running Saturday, November 14, through Sunday, November 15, 2026. Teams of up to four present their completed projects to judges on Sunday.
Why it matters
The event gives undergraduates hands-on experience building technology under a strict deadline while industry professionals serve as mentors and judges. Organizers expect up to 375 participants in Madison this weekend.
Organizers expect up to 375 participants working in teams of up to four within a 24-hour deadline. The final participant count and number of completed projects remain unreported.
The players
Steve Mathesius
Steve Mathesius is chief information security officer at TDS and a sponsor of the MadHacks event.
The details
MadHacks is an annual hackathon that brings together undergraduate students from UW-Madison and other universities. Students form teams, build projects under the 24-hour limit, and receive guidance from industry professionals who attend as mentors and judges.
Timeline
Saturday, November 14, 2026: MadHacks 24-hour event begins at Morgridge Hall.
Sunday, November 15, 2026: Students present their projects to judges, concluding the event.
Roadmap
MadHacks continues an annual tradition at UW-Madison of pairing student teams with industry mentors on a compressed build schedule. The model mirrors the broader campus pipeline that links university computing programs to regional technology employers, including sponsors such as TDS.
Students who attend or follow MadHacks gain exposure to real-world development under time pressure and to industry professionals who may later be hiring. Local residents and prospective students can see how UW-Madison's computing community builds practical skills outside the classroom.
The takeaway
A tight deadline can sharpen both technical skill and teamwork, and events like MadHacks show students how industry work actually gets done. Students interested in tech careers can seek similar hands-on events on campus.
Further reading
Explore more Cybersecurity coverage from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wmtv15news.
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