Georgia TechQuantum Computing @ GT

Online and in person at Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech Qiskit Fall Fest 2026

October 1–16 · Hackathon: October 9–11

Explore quantum computing, build a project, and connect with other learners. No prior quantum experience is needed.

Compete for up to US$10,000 in cash, plus compute credits, through the Qollab × IonQ track.

View event details

At a glance

Key dates

September 28 · 11:00 AM ET

Qollab registration opens

October 1 · 7:00 PM ET

Fall Fest begins

October 8 · 11:00 AM ET

Qollab registration closes

October 9 · 7:00 PM ET

Qollab × IonQ hackathon begins

October 11 · 7:00 PM ET

Qollab × IonQ submissions close

October 16 · 4:00 PM ET

Georgia Tech Demo Day

Choose your track

Two ways to participate

Explore the two tracks and find the right fit for you.

Track 01

IBM Qiskit / BasQ

Activities and format
Guided Qiskit notebooks, BasQ challenges, a virtual speaker session, project work, and Demo Day.
Experience needed
No prior quantum experience is needed. The sessions progress from beginner to advanced material.
Team requirements
No additional team requirement has been confirmed for this track.
Awards or recognition
This track does not guarantee a monetary prize. Any additional recognition will be announced by the organisers.
Additional registration
None. Complete the common Georgia Tech Fall Fest registration.
Official Qiskit Fall Fest 2026

Track 02

Qollab × IonQ

Activities and format
A 48-hour project competition using Qiskit on IonQ's quantum simulator.
Experience needed
All experience levels are welcome. Choose from Quantum Impact, Quantum Playground, or Quantum Unlocked when themes are released.
Team requirements
Work solo or in a team of up to four through the Georgia Tech node.
Awards or recognition
Global, specialty, and conditional local Qollab awards are listed below.
Additional registration
Complete both the Georgia Tech form and the official Qollab registration by October 8 at 11:00 AM ET.

Participation checklist

  • Work solo or in a team of up to four
  • Participate through the Georgia Tech node
  • Create the project during the official hackathon window
  • Publish a runnable project on Qollab
  • Use Qiskit on IonQ's quantum simulator
  • Release the project under the MIT License
Full Qollab participation rules

Awards

Qollab × IonQ prizes

These awards apply only to the Qollab × IonQ track and are governed by the official Qollab rules.

First place

US$10,000

US$20,000 compute credits

Second place

US$5,000

US$15,000 compute credits

Third place

US$2,500

US$10,000 compute credits

Specialty awards

Each specialty award includes US$500 cash and US$5,000 in compute credits. Categories are Most Novel / Creative, Most Impact, Best Documentation, Quantum Impact, Quantum Playground, and Quantum Unlocked.

Georgia Tech local-node awards

If a participating location has 10 or more eligible project submissions, first, second, and third place receive US$500, US$300, and US$200in cash, with US$5,000, US$3,000, and US$2,000 in compute credits. If Georgia Tech receives fewer than 10 eligible submissions, the top three projects advance directly to global judging and the standard local cash awards do not apply.

October 1–16

Schedule

All times Eastern Time (Atlanta). Most sessions will be online. Joining links and in-person locations will be added as they are confirmed.

Date

September 28

Time

11:00 AM ET

Qollab × IonQ registration opens

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

Online through Qollab

Complete the Georgia Tech registration form, then finish the separate Qollab registration.

Date

October 1

Time

7:00–8:00 PM ET

Fall Fest introduction and beginner notebook

IBM / BasQ

Attendance details

To be announced

Introduction to Fall Fest and IBM's Sample, Then Diagonalize notebook.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

October 8

Time

11:00 AM ET

Qollab registration closes

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

Online through Qollab

This is the Qollab deadline, not a common Georgia Tech registration deadline.

Date

October 8

Time

5:45–8:00 PM ET

Basque Quantum Challenge

IBM / BasQ

Attendance details

To be announced

Introduction to BasQ materials and its three challenges.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

October 8

Time

7:00 PM ET

Guest session with James Weaver, IBM Quantum

IBM / BasQ

Attendance details

Virtual

Join James Weaver from IBM Quantum for a session on the Qiskit ecosystem, Fall Fest notebooks, hackathon project guidance, and live Q&A. A great way to prepare before the 48-hour hackathon, October 9–11.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

October 9

Time

6:00 PM ET

Intermediate notebook

IBM / BasQ

Attendance details

To be announced

Work through IBM's Molecules as Bitstrings notebook.

Date

October 9

Time

7:00 PM ET

Qollab × IonQ hackathon kickoff

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

Online through Qollab

The official 48-hour project competition begins.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

October 9

Time

8:00 PM ET

James Weaver, IBM Quantum

IBM / BasQ

Attendance details

Virtual

James Weaver joins to launch the session with a brief introduction to quantum computing and Qiskit.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

October 10

Time

To be announced

Advanced notebook and project work

General

Attendance details

To be announced

Work through IBM's The Full SQD Pipeline notebook and continue project work.

Date

October 11

Time

7:00 PM ET

Qollab × IonQ submission deadline

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

Submit online through Qollab

All Qollab × IonQ projects must be submitted by this deadline.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

Week of October 12

Time

To be announced

Local judging

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

No participant attendance required

Eligible Georgia Tech projects are reviewed using the official judging criteria.

Date

October 16

Time

4:00–6:00 PM ET

Georgia Tech Demo Day

General

Attendance details

To be announced

Project presentations and Georgia Tech recognition. This is not the submission deadline.

Add to Google Calendar

Date

Week of October 19

Time

To be announced

Qollab global winners announced

Qollab × IonQ

Attendance details

Online announcement

Global results are announced separately from Georgia Tech Demo Day.

Submission deadline: October 11 at 7:00 PM ET. Demo Day on October 16 is a presentation event. It is not the submission deadline.

Challenge themes and problem statements will be shared before the hackathon begins, following each sponsor's release schedule. We’ll link the materials here as they become available.

Registration

Register for Fall Fest

All participants start with the Georgia Tech registration form. Qollab × IonQ participants have one additional required step.

Step 1 · Everyone

Register for Fall Fest

All participants should complete the Georgia Tech registration form to reserve a spot and receive event correspondence.

Step 2 · Qollab × IonQ only

Joining the Qollab × IonQ track?

You must also register on Qollab. Completing the Georgia Tech form does not register you for the partner competition.

Complete Qollab registration

Attendee check-in

Attending a Fall Fest session?

Please complete the required IBM attendee check-in. Scan the QR code or use the direct link.

Open attendee check-in

Unconfirmed access details are listed as “To be announced.”

Qiskit Fall Fest attendee check-in QR code

ibm.biz/IBMQFF26

Event organiser

Quantum Computing @ GT

The quantum computing student association at the Georgia Institute of Technology. We bring the campus community together through workshops, talks, and hackathons.

No barriers to entry

Free to join and open to anyone curious about quantum. No prior experience is required.

Accessibility

We aim to make the venues, materials, and schedule accessible to every participant.

Event partners

IBM & IonQ

Stay informed

Get event updates

Receive locations, joining links, and schedule updates as they are confirmed.