How to participate

Your mission: to prototype human survival on Mars and Earth.

Mars Challenge opens its doors to young people, institutions, companies and communities around the world to join the most ambitious educational adventure of the decade.

If you are between 15 and 29 years old, represent an educational organization, private company, city, country or are part of a pioneering mission, you can be part of it.

Who can participate?

Youth (Zers)

People from 15 to 29 years old, students or not, with interest in innovation, science, art, technology or sustainability.

Educational Institutions

Universities, colleges and training centers that want to activate the program in their community.

Cities and local governments

Municipalities and governments interested in taking Mars Challenge as an educational and social impact initiative.

Countries

Any country can activate Mars Challenge, either with a local Mission Partner or virtually until critical mass is reached.

Mission Pioneers

Individuals, teams or organizations that want to bring Mars Challenge to a country or region where it is not yet active, becoming launch ambassadors.

Mentors and teachers

Educators who wish to accompany Zers as Mission One Mentors or Mission One Teachers.

Private companies

Companies that want to participate as corporate mentors, sponsors, technology providers or case studies for the teams.

Participation levels by country

At Mars Challenge we believe that talent is everywhere, and that no potential should go unexplored.

Therefore, we adapt the way to participate according to the current growth and connection capacity of each country, ensuring that everyone who wants to join can do so, wherever they are.

Countries with Local Chapters

Countries that already have an active local Mission Partner and a strong network of institutions and mentors.In these places, the experience is lived in person, with a national hackathon that connects cities and communities, and where the program covers participation costs.

Initialized Countries

Countries in full expansion, with at least 3 schools and 2 active universities that are already seeding the Mars Challenge culture.Here the hackathon is organized on a national virtual basis, maintaining geographical diversity and with participation costs covered by the program.

Seeding Countries

Countries where the network is still germinating, with less than 5 active institutions, but with young people and educators ready to be pioneers. In these cases, the hackathon is held virtually, and international participation is possible in person if self-financed. These are territories of opportunity where each new team helps to build the foundations to become Mars Challenge powerhouses in the future.

The participant's path

1. Register

2. Participate in previous sessions

Receive introductory training and resources on the element of the year, agile methodologies and the challenges you will face.

3. Be part of a team in the hackathon.

Teams are created on the day of the hackathon, seeking a balance between disciplines, profiles and talents to encourage innovation and diversity of ideas.

4. Live the hackathon

Design innovative solutions that can work on Mars… and transform Earth.

5. Develop your project

If you are the national winning team, you will move on to the international phase.

6. International Final

Presents in Madrid 2026
and competes for the Houston Space Center Award.

7. Replication Effect

Multiply awareness in your community as a Junior Ambassador.

Benefits of participating