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Wikimania 2025 Hackathon will be an immersive celebration of creativity, collaboration, and innovation set against the vibrant backdrop of Nairobi, Kenya. As a vital part of Wikimania, this hackathon is a working event where developers, designers, researchers, editors, and community builders from around the world meet to co-work on Product and Technology challenges. The event is an opportunity to experiment with fresh ideas, develop cutting-edge tools, and tackle real-world challenges facing the Wikimedia projects.

Program & Schedule

The Hackathon kicks off on Tuesday, 5 August and a dedicated workspace will be available throughout the conference until Saturday, 9 August.

  • Hackathon Pre-conference: Before the main Hackathon begins, join us for the Pre-Conference Day filled with orientation sessions and onboarding activities to help you get the most out of the event!
    👉 View the full schedule here
  • Hackathon Opening: If you are looking forward in watching the recording for the hackathon, please click on this link.
  • Project Hacking: The hackathon space will be open for all registered participants for onsite collaboration.
  • Hackathon Showcase: The Wikimania Hackathon Closing Showcase will take place on Saturday, August 9th, from 3:30 pm to 4:40 pm on the 2nd floor in Nairobi (Ballroom 2) (see Conference Rooms). During the showcase, Hackathon participants will have up to two minutes each to share their projects — whether they’re finished or still in progress — in a way that’s easy for all Wikimania attendees to understand, even those without a technical background.
  • Schedule: For the hackathon schedule please view the full schedule for the hackathon here.

We’ll be including a Newcomer Track to support first-time participants, including sessions and help finding projects to join. If you’re attending as a newcomer, you won’t be alone — we’ve got resources and support to help you get started. More details have been shared during the Newcomer Orientation Session.

Please click on the video and watch the recorded session.

Hosted by the Wikimania Hackathon Working group

Initiative Areas

Wikimania attendees are encouraged to learn about the initiatives Wikimedia Foundation teams are working on. We’ll have tables set up on the 2nd floor in the Trademark Hotel.

Staff will be available at these tables during lunch on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to share information and answer questions.

  • Contact: Birgit Muller, Mateus Santos
  • Wikimedia content is used across the internet—from search engines to AI training datasets. This table focuses on how we can support responsible reuse of our content, reduce harmful scraping, and make it easier for developers and partners to access content through supported channels. Stop by to learn more or share your thoughts.
  • Contact: Nicolas Ayoub
  • We're working to make editing on phones easier, especially for newer contributors. Stop by to learn how we're improving mobile workflows, offering in-edit guidance, and using machine learning to support editors across experience levels. Your feedback is welcome!
  • Contact: Joydeep Sengupta
  • Learn how the Community Wishlist turns contributor ideas into real improvements on Wikimedia sites. These projects focus on building trust, simplifying workflows, and boosting participation from both volunteers and staff. We’re eager to hear your thoughts and feedback—your input helps influence new workstreams.
  • Contact: Egbe Eugene Agbor
  • The Product & Technology Advisory Council (PTAC) brings contributors into conversations about product and technology priorities at the Foundation. Stop by to learn what it’s about and how to get involved.
  • Contact: Sam Walton
  • Learn about the tools and workflows that support admins, functionaries, and moderators in keeping Wikimedia projects safe and well-governed. Stop by to share your experiences or explore what's in development!
  • Contact: Mary Munyoki, Niklas Laxström
  • Visit this table to connect with folks working on tools and technical support for smaller or underrepresented languages across Wikimedia projects. The focus is on addressing language-specific needs to better support new and existing communities. Share your experiences, ask questions, or learn what’s being done to make Wikimedia more inclusive for all languages.
  • Contact: Kevin Bazira
  • How does Wikipedia use AI? Stop by to chat with Wikimedia staff about how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being explored across the movement. Bring your questions, concerns, or ideas—whether you're curious about how AI is being used or want to share how it could support contributors and communities.
  • Contact: Joydeep Sengupta
  • Come meet us to learn how we keep users at the center of our design process. You can also ask us anything about Codex, the design system for Wikimedia.

We’ll have a table labeled Developer Corner in the Hackathon room for Wikimania for WMF developers to help conference attendees with MediaWiki bugs and feature ideas. What can our experts help you with?

  • Fix bugs that can be fixed easily
  • Helping file tickets for bugs that appear hard to fix
  • Chatting about feature requests and helping submit a wishlist wish
  • What have you ever wanted to ask a Wikimedia developer?

Happy to answer general coding questions or talk about our work!

Participation & Projects

Participation in the Hackathon is open to all Wikimania attendees. If you have registered for the main conference, you are all set!

  • Registration: No separate registration is needed.
  • Onsite Only: This year's hackathon is an onsite-only event. Project leads and collaborators must be present in person to participate in project work.
  • Call for Projects: Have an idea? Submit your project on Phabricator for collaboration.
  • Participants List: Add yourself to the participants list to connect with others.

Please note: Project collaboration is onsite only. The opening and closing ceremonies may be streamed; details will be shared closer to the event.

How to Prepare

  • Set up your laptop with a development environment you might need: Follow the instructions on the laptop setup page to find out more about our development environments (e.g.: creating a Phabricator account, Git, Gerrit, and more).
  • Browser Resources: if you are a newcomer, please feel free to check out and try your hands on some of these resources before attending the hackathon.
  • Browse Projects: Check out the submitted projects on Phabricator. See what others are planning and find ideas that match your skills and interests. The project tag is Wikimania-Hackathon-2025.
  • Bring Your Laptop: Don't forget your computer and charger to be able to participate fully.
  • Join the Conversation: Connect with other participants before the event through our communication channels.

Volunteer

The Hackathon is run by and for its participants. You can help make it a great experience for everyone!

  • Documentation: Help take notes during the opening and closing sessions. Feel free to document other technology track related sessions using etherpad.
  • Photography: Capture moments and upload them to the Hackathon Commons Category. Be sure to follow the event's photography policy.
  • Blogging: Write about the hackathon experience, the projects you've seen, or the people you've met.
  • Help Desk: Assist others with questions, directions, or technical queries.

Communicate

The following channels are used to connect with other participants. You only need to join one chat platform, as they are bridged together.

  • Chat:
    • Telegram (Wikimedia Hackathon group)
    • Matrix (#wikimedia-hackathon:matrix.org)
    • IRC (#wikimedia-hackathon)
  • Social Media: Use the hashtag #wmhack on Mastodon, Twitter, and other platforms.
  • On-wiki discussion: Use the Hackathon talk page for questions.

Code of Conduct

To ensure a positive and inclusive environment, all Hackathon participants must adhere to the Code of Conduct for technical spaces. We prioritize respect and cooperation among attendees. Failure to comply may result in being asked to leave the event. Let's work together to create a welcoming and safe experience for everyone.

Media


Organising Team


This team coordinates all aspects of the Wikimania Hackathon. They support project organizers, mentors, and participants, and ensure that technical contributors have a welcoming space to collaborate. They are also responsible for the Hackathon pages on the Wikimania wiki and managing tools like Phabricator for project submissions.


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