Drone Innovation at 5G Counter-Drone Arena Tampere, Finland 2026
Overview
This premier hackathon is a pivotal event designed to prototype and test the next generation of drone and counter-drone solutions, pushing the boundaries of autonomous aerial systems and security technology. Hosted in the state-of-the-art Nokia Arena, which boasts the world’s largest indoor drone testing facility, the event serves as a crucial platform for innovators to contribute to Finland’s national ambition of becoming a global leader in drone technology by 2030. Participants will engage with leading industry partners to tackle real-world challenges, utilizing exclusive 5G networks and advanced testing infrastructure to rapidly develop minimum viable products (MVPs).
Over three intensive days, teams of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs will collaborate and compete in a dynamic, 48-hour pressure-cooker environment. The focus is on disruptive innovation in areas such as signal deception, 5G-driven navigation, and low-signature design. The hackathon offers not only substantial cash prizes but also unique pathways to acceleration and seed funding, making it a critical networking and development opportunity for anyone serious about the future of defense, security, and commercial drone applications.
Event Highlights
- The Invisible Intruder: Teams design stealth drone solutions and tactics to challenge advanced counter-drone systems and avoid detection in a live-testing scenario within the arena.
- 5G-Driven Drone Innovation: Harnessing the ultra-low latency of 5G, participants build and test solutions for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, including GPS-free indoor navigation and real-time AR/VR piloting.
- Low Signature Drone Design: A challenge focused on acoustic engineering and flight path optimization, requiring drones to fly and land while minimizing their sound profile and overall signature.
- The Future of Nokia Arena: Innovators create new operational concepts, services, and business models to solidify Nokia Arena’s position as the leading global center for drone testing and innovation.
Why Attend
This hackathon is essential for developers, researchers, students, and startups seeking to validate their innovative concepts directly with world-class industry partners. Attendees gain unparalleled access to exclusive 5G infrastructure, advanced testing facilities, and a dedicated pool of mentors from major corporations like Nokia, Elisa, and Patria, providing instant, high-level feedback that accelerates product development.
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Beyond the learning and collaboration opportunities, participants compete for a substantial total prize pool of $18,900 in cash. Crucially, the event offers a direct pathway to seed funding and growth: one standout team may be selected for the prestigious 17Tech accelerator program, with the potential to receive up to $54,000 in additional funding and expert support. This combination of hands-on testing, mentorship, and investment opportunity makes it a uniquely valuable experience for scaling drone and counter-drone technology ventures.
Date & Duration
- Event Dates: The hackathon takes place over three days from January 21–23, 2026.
- Duration: The core competition consists of an intensive 48-hour development marathon where teams refine their ideas, code their solutions, and prepare for the final presentations.
Venue / Location
- City and Country: Tampere, Finland
- Venue: Nokia Arena
- Google Maps Address: Kansikatu 3, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Ticket Information
- How Tickets Are Sold: Participation is by Application Only. Interested individuals or teams must register their project idea and apply through the official Ultrahack event portal.
- Admission Type: Free for all invited and selected participants. The event is a competitive hackathon focused on innovation and partnership development, not general public ticket sales.
- Ticket Pricing: The admission cost for selected teams is $0 (Free). The event provides prize money, with a total pool of $18,900 to be distributed among the winning teams.
- Ticket Price Range (Minimum and Maximum): The range is $0 (Minimum) for admission, with up to $54,000 (Maximum) in potential funding and prizes available to winning teams.
- Special Seating or VIP Options: No VIP tickets are sold for the competition itself; selected teams are granted exclusive access to the arena floor, testing zones, partner APIs, and dedicated mentorship areas.
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Contact Information
- Email: info@ultrahack.org
- Phone: +358 40 556 1228 (Juhani Kivikangas, Ultrahack Co-founder)
- Website: https://new.ultrahack.org
- Social Media:
- https://www.facebook.com/ultrahackhq
- https://twitter.com/ultrahackhq
- https://www.instagram.com/ultrahackhq/
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCgGm0zJ_EXAhZFxWekYWyw
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/ultrahackhq/
Getting There
- Nearest Airports: Tampere–Pirkkala (TMP), approximately 16 km from Nokia Arena; Helsinki-Vantaa (HEL), the largest international hub, is 146 km away, with excellent connecting rail service to Tampere.
- Public Transport: The arena is highly accessible. Tampere Central Railway Station and the main Bus Station are both within a 600-meter walk. Local Trams (lines 1 and 3) and Nysse buses stop within a few minutes’ walk at Sorin aukio or Tulli.
- Taxi/Rideshare: Taxis are readily available from both airports. A bus/train from Helsinki-Vantaa to Tampere Central Station typically costs between $25.92 and $60.48.
- Parking: There is no designated on-site parking at Nokia Arena. Visitors are encouraged to use public transport. Several large paid parking garages are located within a 5–10 minute walk of the venue.
- Other Access: The Arena is located centrally in Tampere, making it highly walkable from most city center locations.
Accommodation Options
- Luxury Hotels: Lapland Hotels Arena (Directly connected to Nokia Arena, featuring private saunas and Arctic-themed luxury, ~$189–$308/night); Solo Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere (High-rise with panoramic views near the station, ~$167–$270/night).
- Mid-Range Options: Courtyard by Marriott Tampere City (Modern and comfortable, 0.2 miles from the arena, ~$124–$194/night); Scandic Tampere Station (Conveniently located next to the train station, ~$113–$178/night).
- Budget Stays: Omena Hotel Tampere (Centrally located, efficient, and great value, ~$65–$108/night); Scandic Tampere City (A centrally located hotel offering good value options, ~$92–$151/night).
Reviews
- The challenge focused on 5G integration pushed our team far beyond what we thought was possible in 48 hours.
- Working inside the Nokia Arena drone facility was a game-changer for testing, the atmosphere was incredible.
- We pitched our idea to three potential investors and walked away with a serious mentorship offer—best weekend of the year.
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FAQ's
What kind of technology and assets will be available to participants?
Participants will have access to unique infrastructure tailored for drone innovation, including Finland’s exclusive 5G test network coverage inside Nokia Arena. They will also gain access to specific partner application programming interfaces (APIs) and state-of-the-art counter-drone systems like the ONYKS™ Shield for testing. All hardware, software, and testing environment necessities for the challenges will be provided or made accessible to the selected teams.
Are teams required to have a specific background to participate?
No single background is required; the hackathon thrives on multidisciplinary collaboration. While technical skills in coding, embedded systems, and drone operation are beneficial, teams also need business strategists, user experience (UX) designers, and subject matter experts. Ultrahack strongly encourages diverse teams of developers, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs.
What are the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of the solutions developed?
Participants retain full ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to any solutions or concepts they develop during the hackathon. While the event facilitates connections with challenge partners who may be interested in commercializing solutions, any further agreements are negotiated directly between the team and the partners. Ultrahack ensures that participant rights are protected.
How is the prize money awarded, and what is the accelerator funding opportunity?
The total prize pool of $18,900 is awarded to the winning teams across the various challenge tracks, typically as non-dilutive cash prizes. The accelerator funding of up to $54,000 is a separate opportunity; a highly successful team may be selected by the 17Tech accelerator for investment and specialized development support outside the core hackathon prize.
If I am traveling internationally, is there assistance available for logistics?
While Ultrahack does not typically cover travel costs for all participants, they provide comprehensive support for logistics, including detailed information on transportation and accommodation near Nokia Arena. Additionally, the event listing specifically highlights Euro Travelo as a dedicated partner to assist international travelers with booking tickets, flights, and managing their entire trip to Tampere.
