GRAPHIC APPAREL SHOPAs the Model Context Protocol (MCP) celebrates its first anniversary, the community is gearing up for a landmark event, a worldwide hackathon hosted by Anthropic and Gradio. What began as an experimental project has rapidly evolved, now boasting integrations by industry giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. This celebration brings together developers, innovators, and AI enthusiasts eager to drive the next chapter in agentic AI.
What Makes This Hackathon Stand Out?
- Event Dates: November 14-30, 2025 seventeen days packed with creativity, spanning three weekends
- Impressive Prizes: Over $15,000 in cash, $500,000 in API credits, plus exclusive sponsor bonuses
- Global Access: Fully online, open to solo participants or teams of up to five
- Strong Sponsor Lineup: Backing from Anthropic, Gradio, Hugging Face, Google Gemini, Modal, SambaNova, ElevenLabs, Blaxel, and more
Two Exciting Hackathon Tracks
Track 1: Building MCP
This track invites participants to create new MCP servers and tools, expanding the protocol’s capabilities. Projects may focus on data analysis, workflow automation, or other creative integrations, with categories for enterprise, consumer, and artistic solutions.
- Top Prizes: $1,500 for first place; $500 for second
Track 2: MCP in Action
Here, teams build full AI agent applications leveraging MCP for autonomous reasoning and execution. Categories include productivity, multimodal experiences, and gaming, each with substantial cash awards.
- First Place: $2,500 (per category)
- Second Place: $1,000
- Third Place: $500
Additional recognition includes a $1,000 Community Choice Award and special sponsor prizes.
Why Should You Participate?
- Learn Cutting-Edge AI: Work hands-on with MCP and explore Gradio 6’s latest features
- Win Valuable Rewards: Cash prizes, API credits, and unique sponsor perks
- Grow Your Network: Connect with thousands of developers and AI industry leaders
- Showcase Your Skills: Build portfolio-ready, real-world applications
What’s New for 2025?
- Gradio 6 Integration: Enhanced mobile support and visual editing tools
- Fresh Categories: Productivity, Multimodal, and Games
- Creative Coding Support: Encouraging innovative, flexible development approaches
- Boosted Visibility: Opportunities for social sharing and community engagement
- Free API Credits: Access to leading AI inference providers for all participants
Getting Started: How to Join
- Register: Request to join the organization and fill out the registration form
- Select Your Track: Decide between Building MCP or MCP in Action
- Start Building: Begin your project when the hackathon kicks off on November 14
All submissions must be original, created during the event, and shared as Hugging Face Spaces. Proper documentation, demo videos, and social links are required, and participants are encouraged to submit multiple entries, even across tracks.
Event Timeline and Community Perks
- Before the Hackathon: Registration, sponsor reveals, and educational content (October 13–November 13)
- During: Official build period and live kickoff (November 14–30)
- After: Judging and winner announcements (December 1–15)
Participants enjoy access to office hours, Discord support, comprehensive guides, and a vibrant developer network. The event welcomes both newcomers and veterans, supports multiple languages, and emphasizes open-source contributions.
Ready to Shape the Future?
The MCP’s first birthday is a call to action for anyone passionate about agentic AI. With major industry adoption and a growing community, this hackathon is your opportunity to innovate, connect, and help define the next era of AI agents. Registration is open—bring your ideas, join the excitement, and make your mark on the future of AI.
MCP Turns One: Join the Global Hackathon Shaping the Future of Agentic AI