The future of OpenSearch isn’t just being built by the core team—it’s being built by you. We are officially kicking off the OpenSearch Agent Skills Hackathon, and this is your chance to turn your ideas into production-ready code that could ship in the official OpenSearch project.
Agentic AI is fundamentally changing how developers interact with search and observability. We aren’t looking for concepts that sit in a dusty repo; we are looking for skills that solve real customer pain points and push the boundaries of what OpenSearch can do.
Why you can’t afford to miss this
This isn’t just another hackathon. If you’ve been looking for a reason to finally build that agentic skill, this is it. Here’s why the stakes are higher than usual:
- Your Code Could Ship: This is a rare opportunity to get your skill in front of the people who maintain OpenSearch. Selected skills may be contributed to the official OpenSearch Agent Skills GitHub repository, giving you visibility across the global developer community
- The Spotlight: First-place winners may be invited to present their skill live at OpenSearchCon North America in San Jose, CA (September 22-24, 2026). Imagine walking onto that stage as a direct contributor to the ecosystem
- The Prizes: We have a $5,000 USD total prize pool
- 1st Place: $1,500 USD cash prize (and up to $2,000 travel stipend to attend OpenSearchCon North America)
- 2nd Place: $1,000 USD
- 3rd Place: $500 USD
The timeline
The clock is already ticking. You have exactly four weeks to go from idea to production-ready skill
- July 15, 2026: Hackathon opens. Submit your ideas, find your teammates, and get to work
- August 17, 2026 (11:59 PM PST): The deadline. Your code and a 5-minute demo video must be submitted by this time.
How to get started
Teams are capped at two members, and the best ideas are moving fast. Do not wait for the deadline to start building.
- Form Your Team: Partner up (max 2 per team) and define your use case
- Focus on Impact: We are looking for technical innovation in search, log/observability, and migration. Make sure your README is clear and your 5-minute video effectively communicates your value to a Tech Lead or CTO
- Submit: Head over to the official portal on GitHub to submit your skill
View the Hackathon page and read the official rules for more details.
Questions? Join us in the #Hackathon-Agent-Skills Slack channel to connect with the core team.
Please note: This hackathon is open to U.S. residents only this time around, but we encourage you to register your interest for future global hackathons.
Don’t just use the tools. Build the ecosystem. See you at the finish line!
