The VIBE-ATHON 2026

Everyone is welcome.

Bring your curiosity and explore what you can build with other people and AI tools. Work on a real-world challenge, try out an idea and share what you learn.

Register for The VIBE-ATHON
The idea

What is
The VIBE-ATHON?

The VIBE-ATHON brings people together for a weekend of exploring challenges and building ideas. You can come with friends or meet people to work with at the event.

Teams use AI tools to develop a practical response to a real-world challenge. That could be a prototype, a proposal, an approach or an experiment. You can test ideas where practical; your response does not have to be a finished product or use AI itself.

The first VIBE-ATHON welcomed 29 participants in November 2025. For 2026, we’re aiming to bring together 40 or more people.

Find your place

How to get involved

Form teams and explore an idea together

Join a team on the day to explore a challenge and develop a practical response. It could be a prototype, a proposal, an approach or an experiment.

Bring your friends!

Invite friends or colleagues who enjoy solving problems or trying out technology. Register together and explore what you can build.

Real-world challenges

Register for The VIBE-ATHON
From first ideas to next steps

The weekend

  1. Friday 13 November · 5 pm NZDT

    The event begins

    Friday evening is the start of the event. Meet the other participants and begin forming teams.

  2. During the weekend

    Develop your ideas

    Explore a challenge, develop a practical response and share what you learn. Test ideas where possible.

  3. Sunday 15 November

    Polish, present and celebrate

    Polish your ideas, present what you’ve developed and celebrate with awards. The event will finish around 7pm.

Detailed joining information will be provided after registration.

Good to know

Questions

Do I need to attend on Friday?

Yes. Team formation begins on Friday.

Can younger people take part?

Contact Jack at jack@aisandbox.org.nz to discuss participation and the parental attendance or consent arrangements needed for younger participants.

How much does it cost?

Participation is free.

Do I need to bring a team?

No. You can come with friends or meet people to work with at the event. Teams will be three to five people.

Does the final product have to use AI?

No. Teams use AI tools during the build, but the finished idea or prototype can work without AI.

Do I need a complete solution before I arrive?

No. Join a team around a challenge that interests you. The weekend is an opportunity to develop a practical response and test ideas where possible.

Where is it happening?

At NMIT in Nelson. See the registration page for final arrival details.

Who can I contact?

Email Jack at jack@aisandbox.org.nz or Murray at murray@aisandbox.org.nz.

With thanks to our sponsor

Our venue for The VIBE-ATHON in Nelson.

Join us at The VIBE-ATHON

13–15 November 2026 · NMIT, Nelson · Free to participate

Register for The VIBE-ATHON