The Saudi Architecture and Design Commission will host the fourth edition of Designathon, a hackathon aimed at designing creative solutions to diverse challenges.
Running from January 29-31, 2026, Designathon 4 will take place at the Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City) in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In its fourth edition, Designathon aims to create sustainable solutions that deploy design to boost the quality of life.
The initiative is expected to draw 500 participants seeking to develop design-driven solutions for contemporary societal challenges across various fields, alongside more than 35 industry experts, offering high-level guidance and supervision throughout the creative process.
Designathon 4 involves 3 main tracks: Design for Everyone; Tech in Design; and Design from Place. Participants can choose the track that best aligns with their interests and expertise, enabling them to develop innovative design solutions and ideas across a wide range of fields.
In light of this, the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission announced prizes totaling SAR 525,000 divided on nine teams across the three tracks. Each track will feature three winners: the first-place team will receive SAR 100,000, the second-place team SAR 50,000, and the third-place team SAR 25,000.
The Designathon hackathon aims to develop creative solutions for contemporary challenges across various fields. By championing design thinking and encouraging collaborative participation, the challenge empowers the community to adopt human-centric design approaches.
Moreover, the event highlights design as a powerful tool for creating a positive and sustainable impact on society by stimulating creativity and innovation.
The fourth edition of Designathon builds on the impressive success of previous editions. In a remarkable national milestone, the 2025 edition secured a Guinness World Record for the highest global participation in a design hackathon, underscoring the surging demand and passion for design innovation within the creative community.
