Helsinki Digital Humanities Hackathon: Helsinki, Finland 2026

Overview

• The Helsinki Digital Humanities Hackathon (DHH26) is a pioneering academic-tech event organized by the Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities (HELDIG) at the University of Helsinki, bringing together scholars, developers, data scientists, and humanities researchers to explore the intersection of digital tools and cultural heritage in an intensive 48-hour collaborative format. As part of the #DHH series—building on the success of #DHH25—this event fosters innovative projects that leverage computational methods to analyze literature, history, linguistics, and arts, attracting over 200 participants from diverse backgrounds including universities, cultural institutions, and tech startups across Europe and beyond. Hosted at the vibrant University of Helsinki campus in the heart of the city, the hackathon features hands-on workshops on topics like text mining, network analysis, and AI-driven archival research, supported by expert mentors from HELDIG and partners such as the National Library of Finland and international DH networks.
• Established as a flagship initiative of HELDIG since 2015, the hackathon has evolved into a cornerstone of the global digital humanities community, promoting open scholarship, data literacy, and interdisciplinary innovation through real-world problem-solving challenges. Participants engage in team-based prototyping of digital tools for humanities applications, such as visualizing historical migrations or decoding ancient manuscripts with machine learning, culminating in pitches to a panel of academic and industry judges. With a commitment to inclusivity, the event offers beginner-friendly sessions, accessibility accommodations, and opportunities for non-technical humanists to collaborate with coders, ensuring a rich exchange of ideas. The hackathon not only generates cutting-edge prototypes but also builds lasting networks within the DH ecosystem, contributing to publications, open-source repositories, and future research collaborations.

Event Highlights

• Main Activities: Dive into a 48-hour hackathon where teams prototype digital humanities projects, from NLP for literary analysis to geospatial mapping of cultural artifacts, with live demos and peer feedback.
• Special Features: Attend specialized workshops on tools like Python for DH, TEI encoding, and visualization software, led by HELDIG experts and guest speakers from European DH associations.
• Unique Attractions: Participate in lightning talks on emerging DH trends, explore HELDIG’s digital collections, and network at social mixers in historic University of Helsinki venues.
• Additional Highlights: Compete for prizes including research grants and publication opportunities, plus access to post-event mentorship for project development.

Why Attend

• The Helsinki Digital Humanities Hackathon is an essential gathering for anyone passionate about blending humanities and technology, offering a transformative three-day immersion where participants can co-create impactful digital tools while forging connections with leading scholars and innovators from institutions like the University of Helsinki, the British Library, and DH hubs across Europe. With over 200 attendees collaborating on challenges that address real cultural preservation needs—such as digitizing endangered languages or analyzing social media for historical insights—the event provides unparalleled hands-on experience with open-source DH platforms, expert guidance, and exposure to funding opportunities in the € multi-million European DH landscape. Whether you’re prototyping a new algorithm for semantic web applications or exploring ethical AI in cultural studies, this hackathon accelerates your research agenda and equips you with skills to lead the next wave of digital scholarship, all set against Helsinki’s inspiring Nordic innovation scene.
• Tailored for a broad audience—from early-career researchers and librarians to seasoned developers and policymakers—this event stands out by emphasizing ethical, sustainable DH practices in an inclusive environment that welcomes all genders, disciplines, and experience levels. The structured yet flexible format includes themed tracks like “Digital Archives” and “Computational Narratives,” allowing customization to your interests, while evening keynotes from luminaries in the field spark inspiration and debate. Attending not only yields tangible outputs like collaborative GitHub repos and joint grant proposals but also embeds you in a supportive global community via HELDIG’s ongoing networks, Discord channels, and annual follow-up symposia. In an era where digital methods are reshaping humanities, this hackathon is your gateway to influential collaborations and career-defining breakthroughs.

Date & Duration

• Dates: Not specified for 2026; typically held in spring (e.g., May based on #DHH25); contact Euro Travelo for confirmed dates.
• Duration: 3 days (Friday to Sunday, including a 48-hour core hackathon period).

Venue / Location

• City: Helsinki, Finland.
• Main Venue: University of Helsinki, Metsätalo Building (Faculty of Arts), and surrounding campus facilities.
• Venue Address: Unioninkatu 40, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
• Google Maps Address: Unioninkatu 40, Helsinki.

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Tickets available online via the HELDIG/University of Helsinki portal; registration opens 3–4 months in advance.
• Admission Type: Paid for participants; free or subsidized for University of Helsinki affiliates and select academics.
• Ticket Pricing: Ranges from $40 USD for student/early-bird passes to $120 USD for standard academic/professional access.
• Special Seating/VIP Options: Premium options include reserved workshop spots, one-on-one mentor sessions, and priority project pitching; team bundles available.
• Price Range: Minimum $40 USD (student pass); maximum $120 USD (professional pass).
• Additional Info: Includes access to digital resources and meals; scholarships for underrepresented groups; confirm via Euro Travelo.

Booking with Euro Travelo

• Hassle-Free Planning: Euro Travelo offers tailored packages with hackathon tickets, flights, accommodation, and Helsinki transport for effortless attendance.
• Services: Full support including visa help, registration assistance, and itinerary customization for international scholars.
• Contact: Contact Euro Travelo for personalized booking and travel arrangements.

Contact Information

• Email (General Inquiries): helsig-info@helsinki.fi (or via University switchboard).
• Email (HELDIG Director): mikko.tolonen@helsinki.fi.
• Email (Technical Lead): eetu.makela@helsinki.fi.
• Phone (Switchboard): +358 (0) 2941 911.
• Website: helsingin yliopisto.fi/en/helsinki-centre-digital-humanities.
• Social Media: HELDIG Facebook Group for community updates; @UniHelsinki on X/Instagram.
• Key Staff: Mikko Tolonen (HELDIG Director), Eetu Mäkelä (Senior Researcher), Faculty of Arts coordinators.
• Press/Volunteers: Contact helsig-info@helsinki.fi for media or volunteer roles.
• Response Time: Within 24–48 hours during academic terms.
• Language Support: English and Finnish; multilingual sessions available.

Getting There

• Nearest Airport: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL), 20 km from city center.
• Public Transport: Airport train to Helsinki Central (30 min), then tram 7/7A to Unioninkatu.
• Parking: Limited campus parking; use Parkman app for hourly spots nearby.
• Driving: Via Ring III to city center; follow signs to University of Helsinki.

Accommodation Options

• Nearby Hotels: Hotel Helka and Scandic Simonkenttä, within 1 km of campus.
• Booking: Through Euro Travelo or university partnerships for discounted rates.
• Budget Options: Academic hostels like Omen Hotel and Airbnb near Senate Square.
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly options at most venues; request via registration.

Reviews

• “A game-changer for DH innovation—blending code and culture seamlessly!”
• “Incredible cross-disciplinary energy and lifelong research connections.”
• “Hands-on DH tools that transformed my humanities workflow.”